Local Housing Allowence

[Deleted User]

I've been to the CAB today and I've been told if I have a break in my claim, and it HAS to be for a whole week I will get assessed under LHA if it's less than a week I'll just get put back on H/B also I've been told unless I have a break I will stay on H/B

SL x:D

turkleton

Hi Sallylizzie, I know this is probably not what you'd want to hear but I would check with your local authority before you withdraw your claim on the advice of the CAB. All authorities are interpreting the rules on withdrawing claims for the purpose of claiming LHA differently.

Looking on a HB forum the DWP advise that the decision to allow customers o withdraw their claim is a local authority decision, however Reg 87 does not allow a claim to be closed simply because it has been requested.

It goes on to say that if a request to close a claim is received the claim could then be suspended and the authority could query why the claim is being withdrawn and whether any changes of crcumstances have taken place. This could potentially result in 5 weeks Benefit being lost!! The termination could also be backdated if the authority believes a change of circs took place earlier resulting in an OP.

It is also possible that if a new claim is received the authority will query how the claimant was meeting their living expenses. If it is then decided that the customer "intentionally didn't answer and lost benefit in order to take advantage of the benefit system they could even decide to reopen the customers last claim as benefit should never had ceased, which would take the customer back to pre 7.4.08 entitlement."

Not good news I know and this MAY not be applied in your area but it is something to be aware of.

Sorry.

[Deleted User]

turkleton wrote: »

Hi Sallylizzie, I know this is probably not what you'd want to hear but I would check with your local authority before you withdraw your claim on the advice of the CAB. All authorities are interpreting the rules on withdrawing claims for the purpose of claiming LHA differently.

Looking on a HB forum the DWP advise that the decision to allow customers o withdraw their claim is a local authority decision, however Reg 87 does not allow a claim to be closed simply because it has been requested.

It goes on to say that if a request to close a claim is received the claim could then be suspended and the authority could query why the claim is being withdrawn and whether any changes of crcumstances have taken place. This could potentially result in 5 weeks Benefit being lost!! The termination could also be backdated if the authority believes a change of circs took place earlier resulting in an OP.

It is also possible that if a new claim is received the authority will query how the claimant was meeting their living expenses. If it is then decided that the customer "intentionally didn't answer and lost benefit in order to take advantage of the benefit system they could even decide to reopen the customers last claim as benefit should never had ceased, which would take the customer back to pre 7.4.08 entitlement."

Not good news I know and this MAY not be applied in your area but it is something to be aware of.

Sorry.

Don't say sorry, if it's something worth pointing out then I don't mind if it's something I 'may not want to hear' iykwim.:o

I will certainly bare it in mind before I do anything. Especially as I start uni in Sept and I may have to come off H/B anyway, ( I not sure if I will be entitled to a little help).

SL x