Local Housing Allowance Question

bigbill

I assume you have £102.25 incapacity benefit with an extra £34.50 income support making your weekly total £136.75 + the DLA?

If you lose the Severe Disability Premium you will lose all your income support at £34.50 weekly and will then be expected to pay from your £102.25 weekly incapacity benefit rent at about £10 weekly and council tax at £3.20 weekly, can you still afford to rent?

As I have said already there are ways round this reduction get some independent specialist welfare rights advice ASAP.

If you are indeed paying out all your £67 weekly high care towards your care charges then you need this checked as well as it seems a very high amount to be paying?

Danni

Nope- I just get Income Support, as I was turned down for Incapacity Benefit a few years ago. I pay £47 to the council for my care at the moment, which is nearly the amount of severe disability premium I get. From what I've read, I should continue to get the enhanced disability premium.

I currently get £136.75 Income Support a week- £47.95 for me, £25.85 because I am disabled (disability premium I think), £50.35 severe disability premium and £12.60 (enhanced disability premium I think). I also get higher care lower mobility DLA. From that I expect I'd lose the severe disability premium, but keep the rest. As it's all Income Support I will be eligible for LHA and council tax benefit, and will be discussing the different situations tomorrow.

My carer is still uncertain whether he can live with me at the moment, and once my other friend moves in she'll probably be eligible for carer's allowance, which would mean losing the severe disability premium anyway. My social worker is also going to be helping me with benefits over the next couple of weeks, and my budget is pretty flexible so I'm not too worried.

GlasweJen

Surely you'd be applying as 2 people sharing so you'd both get the sharing rate? Our area (scotland so it might be different) only give under 25 disabled people the one bed rate if they are going to live alone.

Danni

I've just come back from the housing office, who say if my friend lives with me I'll be entitled to the two bedroom rate, minus the non-dependant deduction which he'll have to pay. The tenancy is going to be in my name only as it makes it less complicated if he decides to go live with his parents again or something.

It's complicated but I think I'm finally there. Thank you everyone for your help.

GlasweJen

Brilliant Danni, like they said it doesn't matter who's on the lease it's how many live there.

Great to hear you've got a result!

bigbill

Danni wrote: »

I've just come back from the housing office, who say if my friend lives with me I'll be entitled to the two bedroom rate, minus the non-dependant deduction which he'll have to pay. It's complicated but I think I'm finally there.

I would think again?

You have not listened to me at all so I will not waste my time answering again all I will say is you will not have any non- dependent deduction.

You should have Incapacity for Youth as i assume you have been sick before you were 20 you need to sort that out ASAP as it can only benefit you in the long term.

It is possible to keep the SDP in your IS.

Danni

Thank you for your comments bigbill. You're right that I should probably be on Incapacity for Youth, but it took so long and a lot of stress to get any benefits sorted out that I do not wish to change them now, especially as I cannot see there being any benefit to me at the moment. I hope in the future to be able to work, but I have a way to go before that will be possible. Moving to somewhere else is the start of that process.

I do appreciate your help