Housing Benefit - Upfront Payment of Rent

Mr.Croesus

As a result of complex mental health problems, and serious personal issues, I had to take out a DRO a few years ago. I am now a mature student. 

I need to move out of my family home, am looking at rental properties and need to pay for this via housing benefit. Obviously my credit file, and to a lesser extent, my student status is an issue from the agent/landlord perspective. My parents are willing to be a guarantor, however, this might not be enough. 

A suggestion is that more of the rent could be paid upfront (in some cases for the full tenancy term), however, I don't know what that means in regards to then making housing benefit applications. Would I have the same eligibility for this if I were to pay to say for the 12months initial contract upfront; and then the HB comes over that period in the way it would have done otherwise? 

It is, just about, financially an option to do that...but only if the HB then comes in to replace the upfront payment spent to make it happen. 

poppy12345

Mr.Croesus said:

As a result of complex mental health problems, and serious personal issues, I had to take out a DRO a few years ago. I am now a mature student. 

I need to move out of my family home, am looking at rental properties and need to pay for this via housing benefit. Obviously my credit file, and to a lesser extent, my student status is an issue from the agent/landlord perspective. My parents are willing to be a guarantor, however, this might not be enough. 

A suggestion is that more of the rent could be paid upfront (in some cases for the full tenancy term), however, I don't know what that means in regards to then making housing benefit applications. Would I have the same eligibility for this if I were to pay to say for the 12months initial contract upfront; and then the HB comes over that period in the way it would have done otherwise? 

It is, just about, financially an option to do that...but only if the HB then comes in to replace the upfront payment spent to make it happen. 

New claims for housing benefit can only be made in very certain circumstances and claiming a severe disability premium in another benefit is one of them. If you don't claim this then you won't be able to make a new claim for HB and it will have to be Universal Credit for help with any rent.

Full time students can only claim for UC under very certain circumstances. See link for criteria for students to be able to claim UC.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students

Edit to add... i see from another thread that you're already claiming ESA and PIP and advice has already been given about claiming SDP before you can claim HB.

To answer your question here, yes you can pay rent upfront and then still claim for HB.

Mr.Croesus

Apologies, I should have said. It will be a HB claim (if made before Jan 21). I've worked out the SDP is applicable in my case and resolved how to make that happen in such a way that the new HB would be the route. Just unsure of what this aspect now means. 

poppy12345

Mr.Croesus said:

Apologies, I should have said. It will be a HB claim (if made before Jan 21). I've worked out the SDP is applicable in my case and resolved how to make that happen in such a way that the new HB would be the route. Just unsure of what this aspect now means. 

I edited my above comment which crossed with you posting this.

Mr.Croesus

Brilliant, thankyou. 

[Deleted User]

I see a problem, whilst you live with your parents you will not be able to claim SDP (unless both your parents also claim dla/pip.)

Spoonie_Turtle

venison said:

I see a problem, whilst you live with your parents you will not be able to claim SDP (unless both your parents also claim dla/pip.)

But when OP moves out, they'll be eligible and can claim.

calcotti

venison said:

I see a problem, whilst you live with your parents you will not be able to claim SDP (unless both your parents also claim dla/pip.)

Sequencing has been covered in OP’s previous threads
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6177830/esa-support-group-uc-lcwra-permitted-work/p1
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6179069/esa-moving-to-sdp-housing-benefit#latest