Homeless and on JSA

poppy12345

Sunny_Intervals wrote: »

Ah, sorry. I thought you got the full amount of rent in council housing, they just withheld a bit if you had an extra room.

The bedroom tax applies to social housing and not private rental but if you're under 35 and have no DLA or PIP claim then you can still only claim the shared accommodation rate, who ever you're renting from.

calcotti

poppy12345 wrote: »

The bedroom tax applies to social housing and not private rental but if you're under 35 and have no DLA or PIP claim then you can still only claim the shared accommodation rate, who ever you're renting from.

I’m not sure that is correct. It’s not the way I read this http://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/housing_benefit/housing_benefit_for_young_people or this https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/help-with-your-rent-housing-benefit/

I think OP’s eligible rent for social housing would be the full rent if property has only one bedroom. If renting privately he could apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment for any shortfall but this would only be a temporary fix.

Afraid_of_Kittens

If you haven't claimed Housing Benefit in the previous 52 weeks and could afford the rent when you moved in then 100% of the rent figure will be used in the benefit calculation for 13 weeks before any reduction kicks in.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/324708/lha-guidance-manual.pdf

Page 77

13-week protection
8.010 The customer can have their eligible rent protected for 13 weeks
where a relevant authority is satisfied that the customer:
• was able to pay the rent on their accommodation when their
tenancy began, and
• had not previously been entitled to HB in the 52-week period
before their claim
HB and HB (SPC) Reg 12D(5)

Could you afford to pay your rent when you moved in and have you claimed Housing Benefit in the previous 52 weeks?