Housing benefit

LOU40

The man I spoke to this morning said it's not a non dependant deduction, it's because of my household income, the lady I spoke to said it's because of my sons ESA. This is why I'm confused. He has put a note on the system for somebody to look in to it. 

HillStreetBlues

I'm puzzled why they are taking your son's ESA amount into account on your claim as he isn't part of your claim.
The reason they they need to know your son is on ESA to to make an non dependant which would be £19.30 from your claim, but this doesn't apply.

Alice_Holt

I'd suggest asking for a full written breakdown of the HB calculation.

When you get it -
i) Check that your household income and details are correct (i.e they are showing that you partner is in receipt of DL PIP, your IS income is correct, they have no incorrect income details, they identify your son as a non-dependent whose income is ESA, etc). Check this carefully - if any errors tell them. 

ii) Take it to your local advice charity and ask them to check that the council have applied the correct applicable amounts ( https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/benefits/housing_benefit/how_housing_benefit_is_calculated)

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/

iii)  If incorrect then write to your council explaining how it is wrong (keep all correspondence) and copy in your local ward councillor.  (https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-councillors)

You need to do this in writing, since (as you have discovered) you cannot rely on what the call-handlers tell you and a formal record makes it easier to ensure any errors are corrected.
Keep details of all contact with the council.

LOU40

The lady I spoke to the other day said they have to take into account the income for the whole household

Alice_Holt

LOU40 said:

The lady I spoke to the other day said they have to take into account the income for the whole household

       That is correct.  Hence why my previous post suggests that you need to check that all your household income and details on their HB calculation is correct.

HillStreetBlues

LOU40 said:

The lady I spoke to the other day said they have to take into account the income for the whole household

As above get it in everything in writing as you can't trust what you have been told over the phone.

LOU40

Just spoke to the council again to ask for a full breakdown of housing benefit and spoke to a different lady and she has explained it all properly. Apparently they thought my partners pip had ended in April. 

LOU40

This is what they have just emailed me.
My eligible rent is £129.81 a week
They take 14% for under occupancy charge so my rent is £111.64
My son is an adult with his own income, a non dependant. 
Legislation says we must account for him in their calculations. The deduction for my son is £20.6 a week. 
That makes my rent £91,58 and because I receive income support they pay the £91.58. I have to pay the under occupancy charge and the non dependent deduction. 
So next week it should be sorted out when they see the proof that my partner gets PIP still

HillStreetBlues

LOU40 said:

This is what they have just emailed me.
My eligible rent is £129.81 a week
They take 14% for under occupancy charge so my rent is £111.64
My son is an adult with his own income, a non dependant. 
Legislation says we must account for him in their calculations. The deduction for my son is £20.6 a week. 
That makes my rent £91,58 and because I receive income support they pay the £91.58. I have to pay the under occupancy charge and the non dependent deduction. 
So next week it should be sorted out when they see the proof that my partner gets PIP still

How many bedroom do you have? and is it you, your partner & your son?

LOU40

Yes just 3 bedrooms and it is me, my partner and son. Hopefully it will be sorted next week when I show them proof my partner still gets PIP. I don't know why the other two ladies didn't explain it properly. I did say to them that there should not be any non dependant reductions because my partner gets PIP and they kept saying its the whole household they have to take into account