Retired on SP , PC and PiP. Bedroom tax - what now ?

Jeffoxon

calcotti said:

Jeffoxon said:...Surely after  7 years of this, they know how to deal with it, and that i shouldnt be paying.  Strange as its not a new tax

Nonetheless when a claimant has a change of circumstances, which reaching pension age is, it takes time for benefit to be recalculated and updated,

Yes, i gather that but the  DWP have already sorted my SP and  PC,  so they're on the ball

Jeffoxon

Yes, and councils seem to be a bit overwhelmed right now. It sounds like you were able to get in touch with them before, how long ago was that? If it was 4 weeks ago already it may be worth chasing them up.

Yes it was 4 weeks ago, so maybe another call is in the pipeline

Jeffoxon

It's not SDA, that's a totally different benefit. It's SDP ( severe disability premium) this benefit is paid on top of certain means tested benefits and it's not automatically paid. As you're now state pension age the SDP will be paid as part of pension credit.

Ok, i think i might not be on that

Jeffoxon

calcotti said:

OP, you need to check your Pension Credit award. You will not be paid the SDA unless Pension Credit are aware that you meet the qualifying conditions (but whether you do or not depends on which bits of PIP you are receiving). If you are getting the SDA then Pension Credit will be topping your weekly income up to £240.70/week, if you are not Pension Credit will be topping your income up to £173.75/week. These figures exclude the PIP.

I've already been getting the PC award,  payments have started.  I  get that  240.70 you mention

calcotti

Jeffoxon said:

calcotti said: OP, you need to check your Pension Credit award. You will not be paid the SDA unless Pension Credit are aware that you meet the qualifying conditions (but whether you do or not depends on which bits of PIP you are receiving). If you are getting the SDA then Pension Credit will be topping your weekly income up to £240.70/week, if you are not Pension Credit will be topping your income up to £173.75/week. These figures exclude the PIP.

I've already been getting the PC award,  payments have started.  I  get that  240.70 you mention

Great - that means the SDA has been included in your PC.

As regards paying the rent. You are liable for the rent under the terms of your tenancy. Housing Benefit helps you pay your rent, I would not advise stopping the payments you are making until you have been advised that your Housing Benefit has been corrected. If you do you will be in breach of your tenancy. If there are any service charges included these may not be covered by Housing Benefit anyway.

Jeffoxon

Thanks cal,  great info, and as advised, i will keep on paying and maybe call the council in the new year.

calcotti

Jeffoxon said:

Thanks cal,  great info, and as advised, i will keep on paying and maybe call the council in the new year.

If you end up having overpaid when your Housing Benefit is updated your Housing Association should refund you (although you may need to ask them).

Jeffoxon

Yes, either the HA or Council will need to refund.  Thanks again

[Deleted User]

Jeffoxon said:

Yes, either the HA or Council will need to refund.  Thanks again

The council won’t refund, it’s the HA you pay your rent to. 

Jeffoxon

Thats weird, because the HA were the first people i called to mention i should no longer be paying the tax, and they told me to speak to the council, as i posted earlier, which means the HA already knew i should not be paying  ?  Wonder why they didnt tell me at the time to just stop payments