Bit of advice / help with benefits

Caddyshack

Hi all

I'm hoping some kind soul will be able to put me on the right track.

I've been overseas for about 15 years. Recently due to excessive work pressure I have suffered a bit of a nervous breakdown and am temporarily unable to work.

I've returned to the UK, and I see things have changed a lot since I last claimed benefits about 30 years ago.

I read that the maximum housing benefit that I could possibly claim would be up to 500ish per month. That pretty much only leaves house or flat shares open to me.

I spoke to a letting agent, who told me they need to do credit checks plus get landlord and employer references. I have been self employed, last 2 landlords are overseas and don't speak English, and being out of the country for that long, my credit record will likely be blank. So he said I would need to pay the full 6 months rent in advance.

That could be possible, I could borrow that money off my colleague and pay it back later.

To the topic of housing benefit, he said that what I could do, is just not mention to the landlord that I am claiming it. Now that is new. Back in the day, I believe you had to get your landlord to sign this and that. Apparently not any more. So his advice was, as I said, to just pay the 6 months in advance, then claim the housing benefit. Not sure how secret I would be able to keep it, with housing benefit letters coming through the door, but I guess it could be possible.

I'm not fully clear about this plan, since I don't know how the housing benefit people would know how much rent I am paying unless I get something from the landlord?

Now, should I pay the 6 months in advance tomorrow, and start applying for benefits tomorrow - assuming all is approved and okay - when would the housing benefit payments start arriving? In the past I remember it was months before they started paying out. More recently I have read that it is 2 to 4 weeks. Is that correct?

If yes, then in theory within 2 to 4 weeks I should be able to start paying my colleague back from the housing benefit payments.

Apologies for the slightly sprawling nature of this post, but hopefully someone can understand my situation and let me know what's what.

Many thanks for reading, and thanks for your help.

[Deleted User]

Have a read through this;

https://england.shelter.org.uk/search?query=local+housing+allowance

konark

You probably won't be entitled to claim anything for 3 months as you'll be deemed to be not habitually resident in the UK.

Then if you have to claim Universal Credit ( it will depend on area and your circumstances) you'll have a further wait of 8-10 weeks. UC includes HB so you'll be lucky to see penny one within five months.

I think the current term for it is' hostile environment'.

Welcome back to dear old Blighty.

Caddyshack

Well, my ex wife returned several months before me, same circumstances. She said they gave her a hard time about being not usually a resident, but after explaining she intended to stay here, and her circumstances, that her application went through fine. So not sure how accurate that info is.

poppy12345

Caddyshack wrote: »

Hi all

I'm hoping some kind soul will be able to put me on the right track.

I've been overseas for about 15 years. Recently due to excessive work pressure I have suffered a bit of a nervous breakdown and am temporarily unable to work.

I've returned to the UK, and I see things have changed a lot since I last claimed benefits about 30 years ago.

I read that the maximum housing benefit that I could possibly claim would be up to 500ish per month. That pretty much only leaves house or flat shares open to me.

I spoke to a letting agent, who told me they need to do credit checks plus get landlord and employer references. I have been self employed, last 2 landlords are overseas and don't speak English, and being out of the country for that long, my credit record will likely be blank. So he said I would need to pay the full 6 months rent in advance.

That could be possible, I could borrow that money off my colleague and pay it back later.

To the topic of housing benefit, he said that what I could do, is just not mention to the landlord that I am claiming it. Now that is new. Back in the day, I believe you had to get your landlord to sign this and that. Apparently not any more. So his advice was, as I said, to just pay the 6 months in advance, then claim the housing benefit. Not sure how secret I would be able to keep it, with housing benefit letters coming through the door, but I guess it could be possible.

I'm not fully clear about this plan, since I don't know how the housing benefit people would know how much rent I am paying unless I get something from the landlord?

Now, should I pay the 6 months in advance tomorrow, and start applying for benefits tomorrow - assuming all is approved and okay - when would the housing benefit payments start arriving? In the past I remember it was months before they started paying out. More recently I have read that it is 2 to 4 weeks. Is that correct?

If yes, then in theory within 2 to 4 weeks I should be able to start paying my colleague back from the housing benefit payments.

Apologies for the slightly sprawling nature of this post, but hopefully someone can understand my situation and let me know what's what.

Many thanks for reading, and thanks for your help.

See full details of the habitual residence test here.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/coming-from-abroad-and-claiming-benefits-the-habitual-residence-test/british-and-irish-citizens-claiming-benefits/

and here.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/coming-from-abroad-and-claiming-benefits-the-habitual-residence-test/

Caddyshack

Thanks for the info about habitual residence test. That is what my ex had to do, but she said it was fairly straightforward.

So assuming that part is dealt with - could anyone please let me know about the other things I am confused about? Such as the thing about claiming benefits without mentioning it to the landlord, and how long in arrears housing benefit is paid?

Many thanks for getting back to me so quickly that is great

poppy12345

Caddyshack wrote: »

Thanks for the info about habitual residence test. That is what my ex had to do, but she said it was fairly straightforward.

So assuming that part is dealt with - could anyone please let me know about the other things I am confused about? Such as the thing about claiming benefits without mentioning it to the landlord, and how long in arrears housing benefit is paid?

Many thanks for getting back to me so quickly that is great

First you need to check what's in your area. If it's a full Universal Credit area then it will be this you'll have to claim and not housing benefit. Check here.
http://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate

UC takes approx 6 weeks for payments to start and is paid monthly. This and the fact that you won't be able to claim any means tested benefits for 3 months, is also something you need to think about.

I would never go down the route of not telling your LL that you claim benefits. A lot of mortgage companies won't allow LL's to rent to those claiming benefits. It could also cause a lot of problems for yourself in the future.

My advice, be honest, this way you'll sleep better at night. There are LL's out there that will accept people claiming benefits, but it may take longer.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

Caddyshack wrote: »

Your concern and cross referencing posts is awfully kind, sincere thank.

Credit file checked ages ago, naturally. I can comfortably pay several years rent in advance anyway, should I decide to stay in this wonderful warm and caring place, and not return to paradise. Such responses have been quite helpful in that regard, so many thanks.

Now, y'all enjoy saving your pennies, and your ridiculous cost of living, wallowing in debt and abusive government, and I shall set aside any silly romantic / nostalgic notions I had that UK had anything at all to offer, pull myself together, reopen my business, get the hell out of this sheet hole, and return to a place with a flourishing economy in the sun. As opposed to a withering economy in a freezing cold cesspool of a haggard !!!!! of a country.

I shall miss you bitter, penny scraping bunch, I really shall Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.

Clearly as you can pay "several years in advance" you don't need benefits and indeed you'd be unable to claim as you have many thousands in the bank.

gettingtheresometime

Can't quote as the particular post has been deleted but if it hadn't I'd say Don't let the door hit you on your way out

Tommo1980

You don't need a letting agent to rent a room. Just use one of the various websites set up for that specific purpose. I certainly wouldn't use a letting agent giving that sort of advice - who knows what else they are up to.

You shouldn't have any issues finding a room if you are able to pay 6 months rent in advance. Just make sure it's all above board and you get a valid tenancy agreement. Once settled you can then get your claim in.

brewthebear

Typical leave uk then when it suits want to return and claim benefits.....