Housing Benifit - Local Housing Allowance

mogimorgan

Hi there,

I have just received a letter from the coucil stating that from April 08 they are changing the way they work out my H.B.

Now at the moment I receive 49.50 a week, even though my rent is around 60. This means having to suppliment it with my JSA of 46.85. Now this is a struggle at the moment, and hopefully I will find a new job asap, however if in april I am still on JSA, what will happen with my Housing benifit? I live in a 3 bedroom terrance house (1 bedroom is box room e.g very small) and there are only 2 of us living here. Does this mean we will get less help from the coucil?

Any help would be much appricatied.

Scarlett1

I think it only applies to new applicants after April 08, unless you rent elsewhere then it will apply to you.

healy

Scarlett1 wrote: »

I think it only applies to new applicants after April 08, unless you rent elsewhere then it will apply to you.

Yes I think you are right as that is what I read too.

Batty_3

If you are a couple you are only entitled to ONE bedroom so if you move to another property you'd struggle with the rent, but as you already get HB it shouldn't affect you

mogimorgan

Nah not a couple, were brothers :rotfl: !!

Yeah it was my mistake, I read the whole letter and than right at the bottom it says "you will not be affected by these changes" :mad: Well why send me it in the first place lol. Saved some money maybe.

Benefits_Blagger

from april, if the LHA is higher than your HB you will get LHA, however if you HB is higher than LHA you remain on the same level of HB until LHA exceeds HB at which point you will be transferred on LHA.

moneysaver12

Benefits_Blagger wrote: »

from april, if the LHA is higher than your HB you will get LHA, however if you HB is higher than LHA you remain on the same level of HB until LHA exceeds HB at which point you will be transferred on LHA.

Where does it say this as my hb is lower than the LHA and its not been changed over

dmg24

moneysaver12 wrote: »

Where does it say this as my hb is lower than the LHA and its not been changed over

It doesn't, Benefits Blagger doesn't know what he is talking about. Sorry x

Alleycat

Seconding dmg. Unfortunately the new LHA does not apply unless you have a completely new claim. This means either losing an entire weeks HB and no guarantee that you will get transfered to LHA or moving house or having a significant break in your claim.

Best thing to do if you are struggling is apply for Discretionary Housing Payments (you can get info from your local council website) and make sure you mention on your claim form that you would have been fine if on LHA. The majority of HB staff are just as peed off about this as you and need the actual claimants to demonstrate that they would be better off on LHA in order to push it higher and hope that those who actually set the criteria will listen (but they need stats to do this!).

Spanglebelt

Hi I was reading your forum and was wondering, as I am a disabled woman who needs a spare room for my carer, what supplements are available for people in my situation who are being told that they are only going to get 395. As a total award,
I am in receipt of high rate mobility for the dla, middle rate care, incapacity ben and income support.
Even my support worker has been advised by a customer service advisor that that is the total allowance.

I have a carer who comes in every day and also she stays over twice a week. Can you please help?

dmg24

Spanglebelt wrote: »

Hi I was reading your forum and was wondering, as I am a disabled woman who needs a spare room for my carer, what supplements are available for people in my situation who are being told that they are only going to get 395. As a total award,
I am in receipt of high rate mobility for the dla, middle rate care, incapacity ben and income support.
Even my support worker has been advised by a customer service advisor that that is the total allowance.

I have a carer who comes in every day and also she stays over twice a week. Can you please help?

Welcome to MSE Spanglebet.

Is £395 the relevant amount for a one bedroom property, and how much is your rent? Are you on HB or LHA?

It may be possible to receive a Discretionary Housing Payment to make up for any different in rent. Your council will be able to give you an application form for this.