Housing Benefit Eligibility Whilst On ESA

GregoryH

I have tried claiming Housing Benefit but was told to claim my housing costs through Universal Credit which I cannot currently do. The reason I cannot do this is because I am undergoing a review of my ESA claim due to a deterioration in my health. If I claimed Universal Credit that review would be closed because my ESA claim would be closed by the process of me making said claim. I have not appealed against the councils decision as yet.


Is their decision right as I am eligible to claim Housing Benefit because I am on a low income?


Any advice and help would be appreciated.

[Deleted User]

Yes they are right, housing benefit is not available to most new claims. You must claim universal credit to get help with housing costs.

Are you currently getting PIP or DLA?

calcotti

No new claims for Housing Benefit are possible (except in very limited circumstances). if you need help with rent you will have to claim UC. You are correct that if you claim UC your ESA claim will close (unless it is contribution based).

When you say that there is a review of your ESA do you mean that you are undergoing a reassessment or that you have lodged a Mandatory Reconsideration of a refusal to award ESA or are awaiting a tribunal?

GregoryH

No. I don't get PIP or DLA but my ESA claim has been live since 2012 and have not been forced to transfer over to Universal Credit.

GregoryH

calcotti wrote: »

No new claims for Housing Benefit are possible (except in very limited circumstances). if you need help with rent you will have to claim UC. You are correct that if you claim UC your ESA claim will close (unless it is contribution based).

When you say that there is a review of your ESA do you mean that you are undergoing a reassessment or that you have lodged a Mandatory Reconsideration of a refusal to award ESA or are awaiting a tribunal?

I was receiving the support component. Whilst in receipt of the support component I received an inheritence and was unable to receive any money from that ESA claim. It was however kept 'live' as I could still get my NI contributions paid as I was still unemployed. During those years that the inheritence covered me financially, my 3 year term of the support component ended and I was transferred back to the WRAG component. I was never informed of that decision until my finances were so low that I couldn't survive without financial help from the DWP again. That started on the 29th of March of this year. The decision letter I received containing my benefit entitlement stated that I was to once again receive the WRAG component so I lodged an appeal against that decision as per above that my health had deteriorated which again as per above is being dealt with.

poppy12345

As has been advised to claim help with your rent you'll need to claim UC. If you claim UC then your ESA will stop and your current award will transfer to UC and you'll eventually be placed into the relevant group which is limited capability for work but this can take a few weeks.

GregoryH

Thank you once again.