Does housing benefit work like this?

BristolMan

I'm soon to be 35, and I rent a two bedroom flat in Birmingham. My epilpsy has spiralled out of control in the last year, and will likely cause me to be unemployed within the next two months.

I should be able to claim ESA, and then would look to claim housing benefit. My first question is, would me claiming housing benefit be a little more straightforward than me claiming ESA? ESA looks like a pain to apply for. Is housing benefit a bit more straightforward? I know that I'd only be entitled to a one bedroom flat, but that's not an issue,

Second question is this: could I choose somewhere in England, move there, and then claim housing benefit straightaway once I've moved in? Or do I have to live in that area for a set peroid of time before I can apply?

Obvioulsly this would all be landlord dependent...

Thanks

pmlindyloo

BristolMan wrote: »

I'm soon to be 35, and I rent a two bedroom flat in Birmingham. My epilpsy has spiralled out of control in the last year, and will likely cause me to be unemployed within the next two months.

I should be able to claim ESA, and then would look to claim housing benefit. My first question is, would me claiming housing benefit be a little more straightforward than me claiming ESA? ESA looks like a pain to apply for. Is housing benefit a bit more straightforward? I know that I'd only be entitled to a one bedroom flat, but that's not an issue,

Second question is this: could I choose somewhere in England, move there, and then claim housing benefit straightaway once I've moved in? Or do I have to live in that area for a set peroid of time before I can apply?

Obvioulsly this would all be landlord dependent...

Thanks

The simplest question first!

You can move to a new area and claim HB/housing costs straightaway. There is no having to live to an area for a set period of time.

As regards ESA and HB it depends whether your area (or a future area) is a full service area.

You can check here:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/Check-if-youre-eligible-for-Universal-Credit/

Would you be claiming contribution based ESA or income based ESA?

Do you claim DLA/PIP?

BristolMan

I don't claim any benefits at all just yet.

I think I'd pay income based, as I have paid lots of NI over my life.

So - I can choose anywhere with a good HB to rent ration (London looks suprisingly good in that regard), get a gunrantor, move in, pay a month or two's rent in advance, and then receive HB soon.

The risk is that perhaps my claim for HB could be denied.

If I claim ESA where I live, and the move, do I have to start the claim all over again? Or can I just update them regarding my address?

BorisThomson

BristolMan wrote: »

I don't claim any benefits at all just yet.

I think I'd pay income based, as I have paid lots of NI over my life.

So - I can choose anywhere with a good HB to rent ration (London looks suprisingly good in that regard), get a gunrantor, move in, pay a month or two's rent in advance, and then receive HB soon.

The risk is that perhaps my claim for HB could be denied.

If I claim ESA where I live, and the move, do I have to start the claim all over again? Or can I just update them regarding my address?

Your problem would not be getting HB, it would be finding somewhere decent that will let to you whilst in receipt of benefits. Even with a guarantor, your chances of finding somewhere decent to live in London whilst relying on benefits are low, as demand for property far exceeds supply.

(If you've paid NI consistently then you'll be claiming contributions based ESA.)

poppy12345

Also for housing benefit you'll need to check if the area you're planning on moving to isn't a full Universal Credit area, as stated in post #2. If it is then you'll have to claim this and not Housing benefit.

Ames

BristolMan wrote: »

I'm soon to be 35, and I rent a two bedroom flat in Birmingham. My epilpsy has spiralled out of control in the last year, and will likely cause me to be unemployed within the next two months.

I should be able to claim ESA, and then would look to claim housing benefit. My first question is, would me claiming housing benefit be a little more straightforward than me claiming ESA? ESA looks like a pain to apply for. Is housing benefit a bit more straightforward? I know that I'd only be entitled to a one bedroom flat, but that's not an issue,

Second question is this: could I choose somewhere in England, move there, and then claim housing benefit straightaway once I've moved in? Or do I have to live in that area for a set peroid of time before I can apply?

Obvioulsly this would all be landlord dependent...

Thanks

A housing benefit claim is generally more straightforward than a ESA claim, as it's based on facts around income. If you claim income based ESA that will automatically entitle you to HB. Until you're 35 you'll only be entitled to the shared room rate, which is based on renting a room in a house. Once you're 35 you'll be entitled to the one room rate.

BristolMan wrote: »

I don't claim any benefits at all just yet.

I think I'd pay income based, as I have paid lots of NI over my life.

So - I can choose anywhere with a good HB to rent ration (London looks suprisingly good in that regard), get a gunrantor, move in, pay a month or two's rent in advance, and then receive HB soon.

The risk is that perhaps my claim for HB could be denied.

If I claim ESA where I live, and the move, do I have to start the claim all over again? Or can I just update them regarding my address?

You seem to be confused between income and contribution based.

Contribution based is for people who have paid the right level of NI during relevant years (I think it's the two or three previous to the claim, contributions from years ago don't count).

Income based is for people with low household income and savings. It can be more than contribution based, if you qualify for premiums which are usually related to claiming PIP.

It's possible to get a combination of the two.

The ratio of housing benefit to rent is that HB is based on the bottom third of rents in a particular area.

You might not be able to claim ESA or HB though. Depending on the area it could be/probably would be Universal Credit.

If you can literally move anywhere at short notice then you'd be better off looking at somewhere that isn't a full service UC area, and putting in claims for ESA and PIP. This would give you the most income, and protect it when the move to UC happens.

This is all, of course, assuming that you meet the criteria for ESA and PIP. ESA isn't about whether or not you can work it's about whether or not you fit the criteria for ESA. PIP is about care or mobility needs.

This explains it:

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/work-capability-assessment

I'm not saying you wouldn't qualify, but moving to a new area with no support and hoping you'd qualify is a big gamble.

Bogof_Babe

Ames wrote: »

A housing benefit claim is generally more straightforward than a ESA claim, as it's based on facts around income. If you claim income based ESA that will automatically entitle you to HB. Until you're 35 you'll only be entitled to the shared room rate, which is based on renting a room in a house. Once you're 35 you'll be entitled to the one room rate.

This terminology is misleading and may worry a new claimant. My understanding (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) is that under 35s may claim the shared accommodation rate - calling it "shared room" conjures up sharing a room with a stranger, when it means sharing a house but having your own private room in it, although bathroom and kitchen facilities may be shared.

Over 35s can claim the rate for a self contained one bedroom flat or similar, not "one room".

Just thought I would clarify (assuming I have got it right) in case it scares off other single people who may find themselves needing to claim.

Ames

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

This terminology is misleading and may worry a new claimant. My understanding (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) is that under 35s may claim the shared accommodation rate - calling it "shared room" conjures up sharing a room with a stranger, when it means sharing a house but having your own private room in it, although bathroom and kitchen facilities may be shared.

Over 35s can claim the rate for a self contained one bedroom flat or similar, not "one room".

Just thought I would clarify (assuming I have got it right) in case it scares off other single people who may find themselves needing to claim.

You're right on both counts- both about the rules and that the names are confusing.

aaronlowe

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

This terminology is misleading and may worry a new claimant. My understanding (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) is that under 35s may claim the shared accommodation rate - calling it "shared room" conjures up sharing a room with a stranger, when it means sharing a house but having your own private room in it, although bathroom and kitchen facilities may be shared.

Over 35s can claim the rate for a self contained one bedroom flat or similar, not "one room".

Just thought I would clarify (assuming I have got it right) in case it scares off other single people who may find themselves needing to claim.

As an aside, sharing accommodation might be safer if you suffer from epilepsy, as the people you live with can help if you have a fit.

My 2 year old daughter once had a fit and slipped down a gap between the bed and a wall. She could have easily suffocated if someone hadn't quickly noticed. Was the biggest fright of my life.

Tommo1980

You can also rent non-shared accommodation, it would just mean that the housing payments would be unlikely to cover the full rent.

There are also exemptions on the grounds of disability, so if you do go on to successfully claim PIP, for example, you could receive the over 35 rate. Not that it is particularly relevant seen as you are almost 35.

If you do successfully claim PIP, you would then be in a position to get some additional care/support should you feel you need it.