Housing Benefit suspended:pay rent or do Christmas - can't do both!

[NoMoneyMona]

I had to put in a claim for top up housing benefit as my job contract ended in October. DH works full time but rent is very high (£1200 for a 3 bed) and we have 3 DC.

I have been unable to find another job despite applying for at least 2/3 most days, as many want weekend workers/evenings, and DH works weekends/eves anyway so we would have no childcare.

HB started paying about 3 weeks later and shortly after that they sent a letter asking for more evidence and gave me a month to supply it. Part of the evidence requested was a new child tax credit award showing the new award since I stopped working as amount would increase. I still did not have a new award by the time the month was up (and I forgot to chase them) so I contacted HB the day after the month was up to explain.

They stated, quite correctly I agree, that I should have contacted them within the month they gave so they could give me more time and as I did not contact them, they had suspended my HB and it would 3/4 weeks to reinstate it. The next day, I got the award notice and took it in to them but they insisted that I would be at the back of the 'queue' and they may not get to my claim before Christmas so I may have to wait until January as they close from the 24th Dec to 4th Jan.

That was 3 weeks ago. We have not had any payments since 23rd November. DH got paid today and if we use that for rent next week (and direct debits, normal food), we will not have a penny left. I will have £50 in tax credits to come as well which will not cover many extras. I have not bought anything for DC as I kept putting if off hoping for the claim to be reinstated. When I rang today, they said I would be unlikely to get any money before the 11th January! We have no access to credit.

WWYD? Would I be unreasonable to keep back about half of the rent and pay the rest when the HB restarts which will cover the shortfall?

I sympathise with your plight. However I do see this kind of thing as a kind of life lesson.

Do your landlords consider you good tenants? They know you have children and parents, so they might make an exception for you over Christmas knowing it is an expensive period. You just have to be explaining of your situation and your intent to pay ASAP.

Regarding the life lesson: this happened because you did not have an emergency fund of money. Which means you're living hand to mouth every month. Living hand to mouth is bad! I would try saving like £10 a month until you have enough for 1 month rent. Then this won't happen ever again. It will take a while to build it up but it is so worth it for the peace of mind.

I have just read some other people's replies.

I also think rent comes first.

In times of trouble and need, people would scrimp and save.

Since your housing benefit is not your own money but from taxpayers, you should probably spend it on housing, not gifts which are a luxury.

If I did not have enough money for things, I go without. I am not precious. Not saying you are precious or entitled but this is just the reality: the essentials of life come before luxuries. To think otherwise is to be entitled.

Op did you manage to get HB sorted out? No only ask because I put my forms in on the 15th, and they wrote to me yesterday telling me I could receive my first payment of housing benefit, almost 3 weeks worth, and they would pay this as soon as I can change my name on my bank acc- still in maiden name. And once they've seen my marriage certificate which they've already seen,

Sorry to babble, but I'm just wondering.

Really quite excited, as in the past few days we've had a few payments come through- partner had an invoice paid which he wasn't expecting and me too, which we paid our landlord, that was half the rent done, and this other payment will mean that we can pay him the rest. Was really getting worried for a few days.

Paramedic the op wasn't going to spend the HB on gifts. She was going to use the other money she has to pay the rent!

Of course rent comes first. It's not for you to judge whether your LL 'needs' the money. I know there are issues with renting in the UK, but if your LL is renting for less than mortgage (and you know this), it's fairly unreasonably to think they'll have a massive buffer.

Also £600? I have to be honest, but that seems a lot to just make an Xmas. I don't want to sound like an arse, because I am a high earner (now) but I don't spend £600 to host Xmas (ever), so if it's gifts, why so much? I don't have kids, so appreciate that's different, but I did spend massively less on all family members (adult and child) when I was earning £20k and had a mortgage!

I know little ones are different, but depending on age, can't you fudge things a bit? For younger ones, lots of little things to open. Teens - a thoughtful gift but let them know things are a bit tight. Assuming this is a short term thing, you could take them all for cinema / slap up meal in Jan, or just get them a gift in the sales?