Local Housing allowance

lil_me

Housing benefit (the rate where it's 2 ROOMS at £300) is calculated by rooms allowance.

LHA which is calculated by BEDROOMS allowance is the other one which is £540

For example my family would be entitled to 4 ROOMS under HB or 2 BEDROOMS under LHA. All depends on how many is in the family and what ages/relationships. Someone entitled to 2 bedrooms on LHA would be entitled to at least 3 rooms on HB so that's the rate to compare most likely (as they are entitled to at least one living room, 2 if there are 4 or more persons in the property)

So they're both CORRECT it just depends which you are entitled to claim depending when you claimed from.

RDB

lil_me wrote: »

Housing benefit (the rate where it's 2 ROOMS at £300) is calculated by rooms allowance.

LHA which is calculated by BEDROOMS allowance is the other one which is £540

For example my family would be entitled to 4 ROOMS under HB or 2 BEDROOMS under LHA. All depends on how many is in the family and what ages/relationships. Someone entitled to 2 bedrooms on LHA would be entitled to at least 3 rooms on HB so that's the rate to compare most likely (as they are entitled to at least one living room, 2 if there are 4 or more persons in the property)

So they're both CORRECT it just depends which you are entitled to claim depending when you claimed from.

Thanks very much, but please forgive me I still don't fully understand.

I am married with 1 baby 3 months old. So I understand we would be entitled to a 2 bedroom place? I'm not claiming anything at the moment but soon my savings will have all gone so then I plan to claim.

Much appreciated.

Oldernotwiser

RDB wrote: »

Thanks very much, but please forgive me I still don't fully understand.

I am married with 1 baby 3 months old. So I understand we would be entitled to a 2 bedroom place? I'm not claiming anything at the moment but soon my savings will have all gone so then I plan to claim.

Much appreciated.

Under LHA you'll be eligible to claim for a 2 bed place.

lil_me

RDB you would be entitled to 2 bedrooms on the LHA rates which you stated were £540, depending on income/savings etc of course. You can apply for properties worth more but would have to make up the rest yourself.

mrsspendalot

My husband and I separated 6 months ago. I am waiting to here about a new property to move into. I will not be claiming any help with my rent as my household income will be too high. My x husband to be is moving back into the home we previously rented together once I leave. It is 2 bedrooms. As a single man, I understand he will only be entitled to LHA for one bedroom. However, he needs the second bedroom to enable him to share custody of our children, who will stay with him regularly. Will this be taken into consideration at all? If it only goes on his own need as a single man, then he will not get any help according to the calculator online. However, after paying maintenance for his children, and other essential bills, he would not be able to afford the rent. Thanks.

Oldernotwiser

mrsspendalot wrote: »

My husband and I separated 6 months ago. I am waiting to here about a new property to move into. I will not be claiming any help with my rent as my household income will be too high. My x husband to be is moving back into the home we previously rented together once I leave. It is 2 bedrooms. As a single man, I understand he will only be entitled to LHA for one bedroom. However, he needs the second bedroom to enable him to share custody of our children, who will stay with him regularly. Will this be taken into consideration at all? If it only goes on his own need as a single man, then he will not get any help according to the calculator online. However, after paying maintenance for his children, and other essential bills, he would not be able to afford the rent. Thanks.

Whilst I do sympathise, it's not really realistic to expect the state to fund 2 homes for your children!

mrsspendalot

The state will not be funding 2 homes, as I stated I will not be claiming any assistance with rent on my own new property, nor am I claiming any now. My income is high enough for me to cope without claiming anything. However, my ex husband is on a low income and will probably struggle on his own.

Oldernotwiser

mrsspendalot wrote: »

The state will not be funding 2 homes, as I stated I will not be claiming any assistance with rent on my own new property, nor am I claiming any now. My income is high enough for me to cope without claiming anything. However, my ex husband is on a low income and will probably struggle on his own.

Sorry, I realised this after I posted. However you'll presumably be getting help from tax credits etc so it would be a kind of double funding; perhaps if you're sharing care you'll be splitting the credits with him and he'll be paying less maintenance?
Unfortunately people do suffer after divorce; can he not get a 1 bed flat and a sofa bed?

mrsspendalot

It's ok

I just get so many people assuming that because I am living as a single parent at the moment that I will be claiming every benefit under the sun, when in fact I have not claimed a penny at all from the state other than the child benefit everyone gets and the child tax credits which I was getting prior to our split anyway - not even claimed free school meals or the healthy start vouchers I've had 3 letters about. I have enough money coming in to pay my rent and bills and feed and clothe my children, so I don't need the assistance. That isn't anything against people who do claim their entitlements before I get jumped on, I have just chosen not to because I didn't feel I needed to that's all.

So in relation to my question, does anyone know whether or not the fact he will share custody of the children impact on his LHA calculation?

mrsspendalot

We have used the online calculation on the CSA website to give a fair figure for maintenance, taking into consideration that he will have the children over night, thereby reducing the amount of maintenance he is paying already. To be honest, round here the rents for a flat are around the same if not higher in some instances, than the £400 rent on this house. I'm not sure there would be anything to gain by him getting a flat really. At the moment he is living with his parents but that isn't a long term solution obviously.

Also, when I say sharing care of the children - he works a weird shift pattern, so he would maybe have them overnight one weekend then not again for 6 weeks, then overnight for 3 nights, then not at all for 4 weeks etc. so it's not strictly sharing care as in half the week with me, half the week with him or anything. But he does still need somewhere large enough for them to be able to stay over on those occasions. If the LHA doesn't cover it, then fair enough, I just can't seem to find any information about those kind of circumstances online.