Question about paying housing benefit directly to me and moving

Johndole25

I'm looking for some advice regarding my current housing.

I am looking to move because the place where I live isn't great for me right now. I want to move into a 1 bed or maybe share with another across country, but as you know its very hard to find housing benefit accepted flats. I receive the full 1 bed rate.

What is the deal with getting the rent paid directly to me and then paying to a landlord?

If I stopped my current tenancy would I still receive that rate, or do I need to declare it with the landlord and DWP to receive the correct amount,

I am a trustworthy, clean respectful individual, with multiple references.

Whats the best way to go?

calcotti

If you change local authority you will not be able to make a new housing benefit claim unless you are getting a Severe Disability premium in another benefit. You would have to claim Universal Credit instead in order to get help with rent.


If you move within the same local authority you can move an existing Housing Benefit claim.


If you rent privately Housing Benefit is normally paid to you rather than direct to the landlord. If you rent from a local authority it is paid direct to landlord. I'm not sure what the default is for housing associations.


Under UC help with housing is by default paid to the tenant regardless of type of landlord.

Johndole25

I do receive UC at the moment but I requested it paid to my landlord.

What I mean is do I need to declare it with the new landlord or can I still get the same amount?

WhenIam64

What you get depends in the local housing allowance for the area you go to

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/how_to_claim_universal_credit/how_much_youll_get

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

It will be paid directly to you a month in arrears. So you will have to find the deposit plus 1 month's rent. There are some local schemes to offer loans of the deposit. You can apply for a UC advance.

Switching to UC is a major cause of rental debt as people can find it difficult to manage the transition to UC unless they have some savings.

calcotti

As whenIam64 says the amount of help with rent you get depends on the Local Housing Allowance which varies across the country. You will still be be entitled to the one bedroom rate. You can check LHA amounts here https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/
You will need to tell UC when you move and will need to show DWP your new tenancy agreement. Any change in the amount allowed will be backdated to the start of the assessment period in which you move.

Johndole25

Does that apply if I'm already receiving UC rent at my current property? I already paid the month here.

When I move surely it still just gets transferred

poppy12345

Johndole25 wrote: »

Does that apply if I'm already receiving UC rent at my current property? I already paid the month here.

Yes, as advised, it will depend on the LHA for the area you plan on living. Check here. https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/


As for not telling your future landlord you're not claiming benefits, that's your decision BUT having claimed benefits myself for many years i could never not disclose i'm claiming benefits.


Some mortgage companies won't allow tenants that claim benefits and this can cause big problems in the future if your LL did find out you're a benefit claimant. For me, i'd have to tell the truth because i couldn't live with myself knowing i'd lied.


If you tell them you're working rather than claiming benefits you would also need to give 3 months wages slips and produce bank statements to prove you're working....

calcotti

Johndole25 wrote: »

Does that apply if I'm already receiving UC rent at my current property? I already paid the month here.

When I move surely it still just gets transferred

Your UC for the assessment month in which you move will be based on the allowable rent on the last day of the assessment period regardless of whether this is less or more than you have actually paid.

Johndole25

What I meant was, would I start in arrears rather than just having it carried over.

The place I first moved into in UC I paid a first months rent to cover the arrears that UC creates.

So if I move to a new property under an new county, surely I could just have it transferred to the new property with no "new" arreas in place.

Johndole25

What I meant was, I wouldn't have to have the arrears again moving to a new property in a new county because I already saved and paid for a first month.

Also with your other section are you saying its possible to receive the UC rent without declaring a property stayed in? Or at least that sounds like what you are talking about.

For example if I moved to a new area, could I claim the UC rent 1 bed rate without declaring the property or dealing with the landlord.

This will be a transitional period for me, that maybe if I get better I find work, so It's no sneaky but I need to find the best ways to approach a difficult scenario. Where I live is making me very, very ill.

poppy12345

Johndole25 wrote: »

What I meant was, I wouldn't have to have the arrears again moving to a new property in a new county because I already saved and paid for a first month.

Also with your other section are you saying its possible to receive the UC rent without declaring a property stayed in? Or at least that sounds like what you are talking about.

For example if I moved to a new area, could I claim the UC rent 1 bed rate without declaring the property or dealing with the landlord.

This will be a transitional period for me, that maybe if I get better I find work, so It's no sneaky but I need to find the best ways to approach a difficult scenario. Where I live is making me very, very ill.

The months rent up front you saved for an paid was for the property you're currently living n, which you would have paid to your landlord, if you move then you will no longer be able to claim the housing element for that place because you won't be living there.



If you paid a bond when you moved into your current property that will be returned, if there's no damage but you'll have to wait about 2 weeks for this to be paid back to you.



If you move you will need to tell UC and then claim for the housing element in your new property with a tenancy agreement, if you don't do this then you won't receive any housing element.



What you're suggesting/thinking is definitely not possible.