Made to Claim Universal Credit - HB Stopped

calcotti

Alice_Holt said: There has (I think) to be a claim (HB or UC) for a DHP to be awarded.

That’s certainly what this says https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments

Spoonie_Turtle

I have no idea how to multiquote but re: needing a live claim, to clarify: I meant DHP for if the reconsideration is unsuccessful and OP then has to claim UC - the DHP (applied for once UC claimed) could make up the shortfall that resulted from HB ending and being unable to backdate UC. Would that work?

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I have no idea how to multiquote but re: needing a live claim, to clarify: I meant DHP for if the reconsideration is unsuccessful and OP then has to claim UC - the DHP (applied for once UC claimed) could make up the shortfall that resulted from HB ending and being unable to backdate UC. Would that work?

Might work but obviously is completely at discretion of local authority.

If OP wants no risk they have to claim UC. If they want to try and stay on HB they have to wait for reconsideration of reversing decision to close HB claim.

KCJA1989

As I have previously mentioned, I couldn't find a list of councillors on the website that was provided - the council's page was unavailable. I found some information on another website but had no idea which councillor to contact, what to say, or what to do.

The best outcome is for the HB to be reversed, though I don't hold much hope. 

In the event of having to claim UC, how likely is it that an advance will be given? When does one receive the advance payment, and how much would it be for? I don't know much about the process. 

Realistically, if the reconsideration is unsuccessful, we will be claiming UC - the last thing I want to happen at this time is for this to drag on. I was told I would have a decision by the end of the week.

What I do find completely wrong is that if there is proof that for the period where I am only working 15 hours per week and am only earning around £120 that there is no support for my family. I can't claim UC until the reconsideration verdict is final. I received a letter (dated 07/02/2020) on 17/02/2020 to tell me that claim had stopped on 03/02/2020, two weeks earlier. I went to the council immediately that day, filled out a "change of circumstances" form and was told nothing about having to claim UC. I received a letter on 20/02/2020 (dated 17/02/2020, obviously sent out after the "change of circumstances" form had been looked at) telling me to claim UC. Even if I had claimed UC that second, I would be behind money wise. That does not seem right.

Morglin

You could ring the main switchboard number of your local council, and ask them to transfer the call to one that has a full list of local councillors, and the details of the ones for your catchment area.

KCJA1989

Do you think it's still worth contacting councillors even though the reconsideration claim has been taken? I have no issue with doing this, I'm just not sure what I'm supposed to say.

Thanks for all the help again, it's been invaluable at this time. 

calcotti

KCJA1989 said:

In the event of having to claim UC, how likely is it that an advance will be given? When does one receive the advance payment, and how much would it be for? I don't know much about the process. 

If you claim UC you can request an advance at your JobCentre appointment. You can get the full estimated entitlement for the first month. It is paid within days. However it is a loan which is repaid by deduction from future payments over the next 12 months.

Alice_Holt

KCJA1989 said:

As I have previously mentioned, I couldn't find a list of councillors on the website that was provided - the council's page was unavailable. I found some information on another website but had no idea which councillor to contact, what to say, or what to do.

    https://www.mysociety.org/wehelpyou/contact-your-local-councillor/
   https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-councillors   (Not sure if this was the site I linked earlier though).

 Try googling "how to find my ward councillor - [name of your council]"
As suggested a call to the council's switchboard on Monday would give you the info.

I suggest it because it usually works for me at my local Citizens Advice - particularly with HB matters.
Letters from clients are ignored, letters from us are ignored, however the intervention of a councillor tends to result in the issue being sensibly resolved.
I also have friends who have been councillors and they confirm that council officials do take notice when they get involved.
I would suggest you email them as follows:


What to write / email 

                                                                                                                                               "[Your address]
  Date                                                                               

[Councillors name
 and address]
cc The Head of Revenues and Benefits at your council / Chief Executive (find this on the council's website - important to include as you have already done the MR)


Dear Mr / Mrs / Miss [name of councillor],
       I am writing to you as I hope you can help me resolve the issue I have with my Housing Benefit claim [quote your HB reference]
The Housing Benefit department have closed my claim and told me I need to claim UC - (enclose a copy of the letter).
It has been closed because I submitted a wage slip for week ending [date] for which my earning exceeded my applicable amount. My usual weekly hours are around 15 (?), this particular week was an exception. I am careful to inform the HB department promptly of my weekly earnings which are normally in the range of £XX to £YY.

   I have asked the HB department to look again at this decision, because:
a) I understand under HB regs [quote the ref calcotti gave you] weekly earnings can averaged out over a longer period;
b) I also understand that the council could have suspended my claim for a week, rather than closing it. My earnings for the following week will be £XX which will enable the HB claim to be resumed;
c) My wife has on [date] given birth to our second child. I would ask the HB dept to add the second child applicable amount to my claim and recalculate the subsequent (and disputed ?) weeks.

 If I am forced to move to UC, we will incur a five week period in which we will receive no help with housing costs. This will place us in arrears with [name] Housing Association. At a time when we are welcoming a second child into our family, this will place us under considerable financial and emotionally strain.

I do hope your intervention will help get my HB claim reinstated.

Kind regards, and many thanks in advance,
[signature]

[Full Name] "

Also speak to your housing officer, see if they have a contact with the HB dept who can help get this resolved.

You could also write the same letter to your MP (cc ing the councils CEO / Head of Benefits), if you think this a good idea.
    https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp/
   


      

KCJA1989

Thanks so much for the detailed response!

The first link has given me three local councillors for my area, I will try to contact them this afternoon. If not I will be in touch with the council in the morning. 

If you have had some success with this in the past that gives me some hope! 

I will use the email template you have given me - thank you so much for that. 

I will be going to our local housing association in the morning in regards to this anyway, so I will ask if there is anything they can do whilst there. 

Is getting in touch with my MP likely to do as much good or not? My fear is this dragging on and on, each day I am owing more and more in rent.

Thanks again.

KCJA1989

Just had a thought.

Assuming the reconsideration is successful and HB can continue to be paid, will the registration of my daughter's birth be considered a "change of circumstance" with the council and therefore trigger a move to UC? I'm not sure of this.

I'd hate to go through all of this just to get to that point.

Thanks everyone.