Local Housing Allowence

Emmy_L

Sally...
yes!
Definitely write to them (or appeal against the decision) and tell them you want to be reassessed under the LHA.
Whats the worst they can say?no?
If they refuse,you can go to the CAB and they will work on your behalf to get you what you need from the council

dmg24

Sallylizzie wrote: »

I've just looked on my local councils website is seems LHA was brought in 4 days AFTER my yearly re assessment:mad: AND had I been assessed under hte new scheme my FULL rent would be met:mad: anyone think its worth writing a letter?

I would be surprised if you got anywhere. If they did, they would have to reassess everyone within the same timeframe x

[Deleted User]

betterlatethannever wrote: »

I was told that by having a second downstaires room it could be used as a third bedroom, meaning i was living in a place that was beyond my means.

Makes no sense though when you say that if you knock the two rooms together there wouldn't be a problem (mines the only house in the street not to have done this)

I yeah I know try telling that to the council, it gets worse bcasue I was also told if my kitchen was attached to the back of the house, like an off shot kitchen rather than runing along the inside wall of the house ( If you know what I mean) then it wouldn't be classed either! mad mad mad council;)

[Deleted User]

dmg24 I see your point, but I may just pop along to see the CAB just to get their advice. Like Emmy-L says its got to be worth a try.

I've been in this house 3 years now, paying extra rent I can't afford, the thing is I'll be coming off H/B in Sept when I start uni but if I can get them to pay the extra for the next 4 mths its gotta be worth a letter

SL x

Oldernotwiser

Sallylizzie wrote: »

Hehe, thought so, but from what I've read it won't happen to me, as I'm being penalised for want of a better word for having a dining room whereas LHA is purely based my bedrooms. ( I think as I say I don't know how LHA works, hence my post):o

Surely a dining room could be a bedroom? Otherwise you could have a 1 bed flat with separate dining room, study, sewing room etc. but still class it as a 1 bed.

lil_me

Ask the council for a DHP form (discretionary housing payment) others who's benefit would be higher on LHA are being encouraged to do so if they are currently struggling with rent payments.

[Deleted User]

lil_me wrote: »

Ask the council for a DHP form (discretionary housing payment) others who's benefit would be higher on LHA are being encouraged to do so if they are currently struggling with rent payments.

I've already applied for that, but got turned down on the basis that after i'd paid all my bills and food shop I had £5 a week left over, thay said this was not hardship so I got turned down twice.

oldernotwiser. I guess my dining room could be a bedroom but it would mean having to walk through someones room in order to get to the kitchen, and my backdoor is in my dining room, I certanly wouldn't condsider putting any of my children in there, but to be honest it's not being classed as an extra bedroom it's being classed as extra space.

turkleton

real1314 wrote: »

Everyone will be switched over to LHA over the 12 months up to April 09, it will be done automatically when you current rent assesment expires. The date for that will usually be the anniversary of the date you first claimed HB. You could find this out from your local HB dept.

Hi real1314, could you tell me where you got this info from because as far as I'm aware (and everyone else in my office), unless there is a break in a claim it won't transfer to LHA. When someone's 52 week referral expires a new one will simply be sent to the Rent Service for a new decision.

beckybloomwood

turkleton wrote: »

Hi real1314, could you tell me where you got this info from because as far as I'm aware (and everyone else in my office), unless there is a break in a claim it won't transfer to LHA. When someone's 52 week referral expires a new one will simply be sent to the Rent Service for a new decision.

I was under the impression there had to be a break in claim too.

lil_me

turkleton wrote: »

Hi real1314, could you tell me where you got this info from because as far as I'm aware (and everyone else in my office), unless there is a break in a claim it won't transfer to LHA. When someone's 52 week referral expires a new one will simply be sent to the Rent Service for a new decision.

Same as our local office aswell. No notification has been received as to when everyone will be transfered over. Suppose it's the same as the CTC/IS for children issue, some people who've not had a change in circumstances are still on the old rules (IS being paid for children rather than CTC)