Housing Benefit - wait time

franlow01

Hi,
I applied for a change in Housing Benefit at the beginning of September. I hadn't heard anything at the beginning of October and I'd had another HB payment of the same amount so I emailed. They replied to say they had received the letter and the claim was with the benefits assessor and they would be in touch if they needed anything else. That was 2 weeks (almost 3) ago.

I provided a signed 'change of circumstances' form, proof of rent payment, proof of the rent increase.

Just wondered if this kind of wait is normal?

Thanks!

poppy12345

franlow01 said:

Hi,
I applied for a change in Housing Benefit at the beginning of September. I hadn't heard anything at the beginning of October and I'd had another HB payment of the same amount so I emailed. They replied to say they had received the letter and the claim was with the benefits assessor and they would be in touch if they needed anything else. That was 2 weeks (almost 3) ago.

I provided a signed 'change of circumstances' form, proof of rent payment, proof of the rent increase.

Just wondered if this kind of wait is normal?

Thanks!

Under normal circumstances it can take a few weeks, these times are not normal and they could be short staffed. You could also ring them again.

strawb_shortcake

We've been waiting 2 months for our local council to apply the student discount to our council tax. They can tell us they've received the documents but not where it is in the job queue. 
Fortunately we are in a position where we can continue paying the higher amount, but I think the delay will be down to increased claimants and reduced capacity. Our local council are also going through checking all single council tax reductions are correct and not being claimed fraudulently so some of their capacity is being directed elsewhere.

franlow01

Many thanks both for the replies. Wasnt too concerned, but then read online that if they have all the evidence they need it should only take 2 weeks! So just thought I'd double check if it was normal.
Hope you get your CTR sorted Annabanana82.
Thanks Poppy12345, I'll give them until my next payment and then ask for an update!

tboo

franlow01 said:

Hi,
I applied for a change in Housing Benefit at the beginning of September. I hadn't heard anything at the beginning of October and I'd had another HB payment of the same amount so I emailed. They replied to say they had received the letter and the claim was with the benefits assessor and they would be in touch if they needed anything else. That was 2 weeks (almost 3) ago.

I provided a signed 'change of circumstances' form, proof of rent payment, proof of the rent increase.

Just wondered if this kind of wait is normal?

Thanks!

Please bear in mind that your HB will not increase if your rent is above your LHA rate.

If this is the case are you able to pay the change that your L/L has implemented

Robbie64

franlow01 said:

Many thanks both for the replies. Wasnt too concerned, but then read online that if they have all the evidence they need it should only take 2 weeks! So just thought I'd double check if it was normal.
Hope you get your CTR sorted Annabanana82.
Thanks Poppy12345, I'll give them until my next payment and then ask for an update!

It's only supposed to take 2 weeks, which by law is what it is supposed to take. However in practice it can take longer than that.

franlow01

tboo said:

franlow01 said:

Hi,
I applied for a change in Housing Benefit at the beginning of September. I hadn't heard anything at the beginning of October and I'd had another HB payment of the same amount so I emailed. They replied to say they had received the letter and the claim was with the benefits assessor and they would be in touch if they needed anything else. That was 2 weeks (almost 3) ago.

I provided a signed 'change of circumstances' form, proof of rent payment, proof of the rent increase.

Just wondered if this kind of wait is normal?

Thanks!

Please bear in mind that your HB will not increase if your rent is above your LHA rate.

If this is the case are you able to pay the change that your L/L has implemented

Thanks. My rent was below the LHA before, so now it has gone over the LHA I should still get an increase in HB shouldn't I?

poppy12345

franlow01 said:

tboo said:

franlow01 said:

Hi,
I applied for a change in Housing Benefit at the beginning of September. I hadn't heard anything at the beginning of October and I'd had another HB payment of the same amount so I emailed. They replied to say they had received the letter and the claim was with the benefits assessor and they would be in touch if they needed anything else. That was 2 weeks (almost 3) ago.

I provided a signed 'change of circumstances' form, proof of rent payment, proof of the rent increase.

Just wondered if this kind of wait is normal?

Thanks!

Please bear in mind that your HB will not increase if your rent is above your LHA rate.

If this is the case are you able to pay the change that your L/L has implemented

Thanks. My rent was below the LHA before, so now it has gone over the LHA I should still get an increase in HB shouldn't I?

You will only receive the maximum amount for your circumstances. Check here what the LHA is for your area. https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/