How do i get Housing Benefit?

kie101

Its very confusing reading online if in my case what i need to do to receive HB can anybody help? heres my situation.
I phoned Job seekers department and they told me just to to go the benefits calculator which only ended up at a universal credit application, I was a Caregiver for 2 years and now the person i was caring is currently going through a mandatory reconsideration thus leaving me with most of my benefits ending i will continue to be a carer if that decision is overturned but for now i am only on child and tax benefit and i am a guardian for my little sister but my concern is paying the rent full, Am i able to carry on H.B with just low income? without Claiming job seekers or universal credit? or am i forced to apply for jobseekers/universal credit to receive it?

[Deleted User]

First you need to establish if your postcode area is under universal credit or not https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/Check-if-youre-eligible-for-Universal-Credit/

kie101

Hi thanks yes it said my area is Universal Credit - full service i am not sure what this fully entails is this similar to jsa will i have to go to work focused or weekly signings on and all my benefits put into one per month as i am just trying to get H.B, just trying to clarify things thanks.

pmlindyloo

Were you receiving Carer's Allowance and Income support? If so, have you had your 8 weeks 'run on' of Income Support after the person you cared for lost their PIP/DLA/AA award?

Or were you receiving Carer's Allowance and working part time?

kie101

Hi yes i was on Carer's Allowance and Income support non working and was told it would end in October which has been around 8 weeks now, the person i cared for is going through reconsideration but this could take a long time i was hoping i could still at least get help with H/B in the time being as rent is the hardest to pay but will i have to sign on? be on universal credit and looking for work like jsa just to claim H.B? I am not sure what the exact requirements are.

pmlindyloo

Are you saying that you can manage with your CB and child tax credits if you received HB without having to apply for Universal Credit?

You can, in theory, continue to be eligible for HB on the basis of a low income.

However, I suspect they will query why you have not applied for UC.

What do others think?

You could take the plunge and apply for Universal Credit and then if you go back to caring because the person wins their appeal you would get the carer's element awarded.

Are you still caring for the person?

Could you get a temporary job? How old is your child/children?

If you got a temporary job, for example, keep it below 16 hrs a week at NMW, then you could just report a change of circumstances re: your HB claim. This shouldn't involve a move to Universal Credit.

Plus, if you returned to caring because the person won the appeal then you could get CA backdated (the reason for keeping any job below 16 hrs at NMW to still be eligible for CA) and also, do a rapid reclaim for Income Support (within 26 weeks) or keep your part time job and claim CA.

That sounds very muddled so hope you understand!

kie101

Oh thank you so much and i am alittle confused by things but i am getting there, and to be more clear i am still looking after the person i care for but obviously without benefit and i am a guardian of my 9 year old sister and technically yes i could manage on CB and CTC for now if i received H.B without U.C, but how would i apply for H.B without having to go through U.C as my council site is only giving me the option saying, you may have to claim Universal Credit instead of Housing Benefit for help with your rent then a link to universal credit is given.

NeilCr

If it's a full UC area you won't be able to claim HB on it's own. You'll need to go down the UC route.

Might be worth a trip to your local CAB to discuss and get some help with your options.

kie101

So i will be forced to do all the requirements to claim U.C for just wanting to claim H.B? Which is the same as signing on like jsa? such as regular signings, job search, work focused interviews? i am not sure what my situation will be but if i have to do all those things just to receive housing benefit it will make my current commitments more difficult but then i guess its what i will have to do if this is the case. Thank you for helping.

Alice_Holt

You may well be eligible for the carers element of Universal Credit, as it's not a condition that you are in receipt of Carers Allowance.

Here are the conditions for the carer element of UC:
"You can get this addition of £156.45 per month if you are caring for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week. You do not have to claim Carer's Allowance to get this element."
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit/Additional-Elements-of-Universal-Credit

If you are accepted as caring for someone 35hrs a week, then you will not be expected to look for work: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit/Claimant-Commitment-Conditionality#guide-content
You should be placed in the No work-related requirements group.

So, under UC you may be able to receive:
Basic amount - £318
Carers Addition - £156
Plus your housing element (replaces HB in UC areas).

How old is your sister? Are you getting Child Tax Credits for her?
Also look at Guardian Allowance - https://www.gov.uk/guardians-allowance

I would second NeilCr's suggestion of getting a benefit check from your local advice agency / CAB.

But, UC may be a good option for you (depending on if you are getting CTC, and how UC would cover this).

kie101

I have not heard of "carers element of Universal Credit" but isnt this the same condition as carers allowance? the person who i cared for was turned down on their last evaluation so they are re-appealing that decision and we are still waiting to hear back and that could take along time, i am getting CTC and she is 9 years old, i also get special guardians allowance which is just topped on top of child benefit.

I could try talking to CAB i don't have one near by but i will try do what i can.

Thanks.