Joint tenancy - New housing benefit claim procedure

DarrenLee1

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can help. I'm in Scotland, Angus council area. I have just gained joint tenancy with my mum in our council owned property. Only she was liable for rent before (I pay housekeeping of course), but now it's a joint tenency I'll be registered as liable too, so I need to apply for housing benefit and council tax rebate (I believe).

Angus council says I need to apply for Universal Credit in order to claim housing benefit, but I'm already in receipt of ESA, which I believe is a UC component? I'm currently recieving DLA, and I'm waiting on a claim for PIP, as DLA is going away. I don't know if this is relevant.

Do I need to submit a new claim for Universal credit, or just ask for housing benefit component from the Job centre? Or is there something else I need to apply, look for?

Sorry for so many questions! I'd just call the council or other relevant agency, but I get very anxious on the telephone and lose my way, so it would be a great help to know more info beforehand.


Thanks.

poppy12345

DarrenLee1 wrote: »

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can help. I'm in Scotland, Angus council area. I have just gained joint tenancy with my mum in our council owned property. Only she was liable for rent before (I pay housekeeping of course), but now it's a joint tenency I'll be registered as liable too, so I need to apply for housing benefit and council tax rebate (I believe).

Angus council says I need to apply for Universal Credit in order to claim housing benefit, but I'm already in receipt of ESA, which I believe is a UC component? I'm currently recieving DLA, and I'm waiting on a claim for PIP, as DLA is going away. I don't know if this is relevant.

Do I need to submit a new claim for Universal credit, or just ask for housing benefit component from the Job centre? Or is there something else I need to apply, look for?

Sorry for so many questions! I'd just call the council or other relevant agency, but I get very anxious on the telephone and lose my way, so it would be a great help to know more info beforehand.


Thanks.

All areas are now a full UC and unless you're currently claiming severe disability premium in with your ESA then you won't be able to start a new claim for housing benefit. It will have to be UC for the housing element.



If you claim UC then your ESA will stop and be transferred to UC. If you're in a group for ESA then this will be honoured in UC.

DarrenLee1

So I'd get a make a claim for UC, and apply for housing within that, and the current ESA will be transferred over with the new claim. If that's right then it makes sense. Thank you.

calcotti

Just to be clear, if your ESA includes any contribution based entitlement, that will continue. Any income based ESA will be replaced by a UC entitlement which will include the help with rent.

DarrenLee1

Got it I think. I see that the UC application can be done online, which is convenient. I've done more exploring myself after information from above reply, and found a calculator, I should get housing covered under UC. I was worried as you hear horror stories. I appreciate the assistance, I know better where I stand now.

calcotti

Just to add, the DLA to PIP transfer stands outside UC and any award is ignored as income when calculating your UC entitlement.