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?

[EssentialHummus]

Araiba - as above. If HB screw up (it's been known to happen), OP will be in the shit. And this is so far from an emergency necessitating a payday loan.

[TesticleOfObjectivity]

I didn't see where the op said she would need £600 for Christmas? That is way too much. If you can give some more details op I'd be happy to help you work to a lower budget or come up with other ideas.

[Snoopadoop]

Just wanted to point out, if you missed the deadline to provide information the hb may not back date it. They may well reinstate the claim but are not obliged to back date to when the claim stopped as you failed to respond in time.

I was wondering this (know nothing about housing benefit). OP you may want to check this!
You sound very rude and bitter that you are reliant on the good will of your landlord, I'll put that down to stress though and wish you lots of luck.

[Kr1stina]

OP you see, to want to make this all or nothing and are looking at it in a very black and white way - my rich nasty landlord or my kids .

Everyone has told you it's not like that. Keeping a secure home is essential to your kids welfare .

Also you don't seem willing to consider all the other helpful suggestions made here, you should be doing all of them and hope that one works out .

• go to Hb office and ask nicely / beg
  
• ask your DH employer for , say £200 advance on next months salary
  
• ask LL to pay £200 less this month and the rest in mid Jan
  
• put £200 on credit card and PAY IT ALL OFF IN JANUARY
  

You are also losing sympathy because some of your statements are unreasonable .

Most people who have a job ending in October would have bought Christmas gifts already or put money by

Most people on modest incomes do not spend £200 on each child for Christmas gifts .

You imply that anyone who doesn't isn't " treating " their kids, which nonsense nand a bit offensive TBH . Many families have happy Christmases on far less.

[vindscreenviper]

The Co op are doing a £10 xmas turkey dinner op

[Want2bSupermum]

This is why the OP should be going to the HB people with a very humble attitude and asking them to help her get everything processed ASAP. If she knows payment will be processed she can go to the LL with a plan to pay the majority of the rent or use the bank for a short term overdraft.

Speaking of which OP, I used to work in a bank and we had about $40 a day to use as credit to make customers happy. If someone like you call asking for an overdraft I would be using the credit to cover any fees or interest on the overdraft. If you pay the full rent and are short, before going to a place like wonga I would strongly suggest you go to the bank and see what they can do for you.

I am a LL and I can see why the OP is pissed off. When I have sold properties that are rented out I am well aware that this is a huge inconvenience to them. I wait until 3 months before the end of the lease to start marketing the home and reduce rent so the tenants can use the difference to cover moving costs. I also NEVER expect my tenants to replace or fix broken appliances. That is just unacceptable and bad management by the LL.

[Charlesroi]

You need to be practical and think of your future (sod the LL). If you don't pay the LL the full rent you won't get a good reference, you'll find it much harder to rent somewhere else in the future and you will be constantly worrying about eviction (not paying the rent is grounds).
So

• pay the rent
  
• get to a food bank for a top-up
  
• FB selling and Gumtree anything you can for a present fund
  
• keep hassling the council (in person if you can) for the money
  

I know it'll be disappointing if the kids have a lean Christmas but it beats the stress of having nowhere to live for the foreseeable future.

[SilverDragonfly1]

As vino says, landlords very (very, very) often refuse to take on tenants on HB because they fear they will be the ones left in financial difficulty when the council inevitably messes up and/or drag their feet.

If you are still on HB when you need to move house, you've got the chance now to give concrete proof that you don't default on the rent when problems arise. This will be invaluable!

If you decide not to pay fully (assuming you ask the LL and she says no), there will be concrete proof via the reference that you are exactly the sort of tenant they avoid at all costs.

I know all this because my daughter has been looking for a place that accepts partial HB for almost a year and has only just found one- and she has no debts or bad references at all. Estate agents have actually hung up on her when she's mentioned HB. Not paying could have far greater long term consequences than you can imagine right now.

[goodnightdarthvader1]

I also NEVER expect my tenants to replace or fix broken appliances. That is just unacceptable and bad management by the LL.

Yes, I absolutely agree. But it is a COMPLETELY separate issue as to whether the OP is "obligated" to pay her rent on time. In the eyes of the law, it's not related. She's using this to justify not paying her rent because

1.) She missed the month's deadline
2.) She didn't address this issue before now (a week before xmas!)
3.) She seems unwilling to consider absolutely ANY OTHER SOLUTION to this issue except not paying her full rent.

None of these things are her landlord's fault. The LL is NOTHING to do with why the OP can't afford xmas.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Who do I put first the landlord or my DC? I know it's frustrating but actually teaching your children to meet their needs before their wants and to pay their rent FIRST is putting them first in the long term.

You can ASK your LL, your DH's employer and community about help. Just don't TELL anyone they are doing anything.

[RubbleBubble00]

Pay the rent. Contact food bank to help cover food, then Salvation Army or similar charity to help with presents. Ask for help. You can pay it forward when your back on your feet,

[Want2bSupermum]

The thing is that when you are a crappy LL you end up with tenants who are crappy with you. That is why I understand where the OP is coming from. However, if she wants to be able to rent in the future she needs to make sure she pays what is owed in full unless she has an agreement from the LL in place.

I also agree the OP has been rather stupid with not putting the HB application as a top priority. I was just trying to point out why I can empathize with the OP having the attitude that she has with the LL. It is totally understandable, however it is a dangerous way to think.

[ghostspirit]

i had a problem with my housing benefit when i went on maternity leave. they said i was working and on maternity pay at the same time. was a bit of a madness housing benefit was suspened. then there was a madness because my daughter turned 18. my arrears got pretty high. but they did back date it all in the end. i did not pay any whilst i was waiting as i knew it was not down to me and would be back paid. and if i had got an eviction notice i would have taken it to them.... im back to work in a few weeks and dreading the madness of it all going wrong again.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

I wouldn't pay half rent. HB can be gits and you've admitted this is your fault, so they'll put the world and his wife ahead of getting your benefit reinstated and it might not be backdated. If it's not sorted next month, you might need the goodwill of the landlady then.

I appreciate that it sucks though. They penalise you badly for forgetting deadlines. I'd put them all in a calendar you see regularly (on your phone?) from now on.

[ExConstance]

This is why landlords often say "no housing benefit"

[Bupcake]

Also worth considering, OP, that if your kids are old enough to understand that they're getting a "cheap" Christmas, they're old enough to understand why - good chance to show them how to be responsible with money, by paying what you owe first. It sucks that it's happening at Christmas, but as others have said, you should be able to get a few bits and pieces cheaply.

I'd start by contacting the LL to explain, and then ask whether you could hold back £200 or so, to be paid as soon as the HB comes through.

If she says yes, then suit down with the DCs and explain roughly what's going on, and that you have £200 to spend on Christmas, and get then to help with ideas. You may find that being involved makes them appreciate it more, and they might have some good ideas (eg having pizza for Christmas dinner or something). You can explain that once the HB comes through you can have a "Bonus Christmas" in January.

[noeffingidea]

Rent must be paid first.
In your position I would consider a small provident loan (say £100) , so £30 per child, and £10 to spend at Aldis on a chicken and veg. Yes provident has a bad reputation, I have used them in the past with no problems. They are very flexible, if you're short one week just pay what you can, no problems.
The other thing I have done is pawn any jewellry. Gold is still high, as far as I know. Scrap gold and silver can be sold, often for surprising amounts.
I was watching a programme last night about poverty at christmas. There were a number of local charities that helped out local people (this was in Blackpool) - one family was given a christmas tree, another some food, even presents for the children. Some lovely generous people around !
I second looking on MSE, they may have some more suggestions. And don't worry, things will be fine.

[ghostspirit]

not sure if i have misunderstood. but did housing benefit not say if the op got an eviction notice to take it down there and they will rush through the housing benefit and any back pay due.

also op does housing benefit get paid to you and then you pass it to landlord. or does it go straight to landlord.

mine gos straight to landlord when i had problems i did consider trying to pay some out of my money. but then my landlords are not be trusted so when the back dated money went to them i would not have seen any form of refund. or credit. they would have kept hush.

[Kr1stina]

Please dont use any pay day loans . As others have said , borrow from bank via overdraft or credit card and pay it all off on next pay day or when HB come through

And when you are back on your feet again, why don't you join your local credit union ? They are a safe and legitimate way to save and borrow small sums

[catsrus]

It depends on the terms of the lease re appliances. My friend rents from a landlord he really likes, he needed a new washing machine, I asked if the landlord was buying it, he said 'no', his LL provides fixtures, including a fitted cooker / hob, but the the tenant provides the fridge/freezer and washing machine. My friend says he preferred that as he already had these from his previous rental house and got the ones he wanted (so it can't be that uncommon).

OP I'm horrified at your attitude to be honest. You have the Christmas you can afford once you have paid your bills. That's the example you should be setting your children.

[expatinscotland]

Christmas . . . one fucking day. A pagan holiday made over into a Christian one made over into a commercial one. It's a fucking roast dinner with optional gifts thrown in and you are willing to risk the roof over your children's heads over it. That is mind-blowing. She doesn't renew your lease next year because you've been proven yourself a tenant who doesn't pay rent on time and you'll be back on here bleating about how you can't find another LL willing to take HB tenants, how unfair it is, facing homelessness/temp accommodation miles away from your H's work/offered a place in a shithole after months in B&B/etc. because one day was worth the roof over your heads.

People like you are part of the reason LL's don't like to take on tenants who use HB, and never forget that, you, too, could be one of those people with doors slammed in their faces every time you mention HB.

Lidl has spatchcock chickens for £4.49, trimmings and all can be had for a tenner.

When you're reliant on HB and one income, things like £600 on one fucking day has to go by the wayside.

[witsender]

She wouldn't need to pay tax unless she was making a profit, which she isn't.

None of that is any of your concern however.

Grow up and proritise. Pay your rent and save for Christmas next yr.

[Bakeoffcake]

You don't have to make the choice between rent and Xmas.

1. Pay the rent
   
2. Sell anything you can to raise a it if money
   
3. Look on freecycle pages and find some toys for your children
   
4. Go to the food bank.
   
5. Buy anything you must buy on Xmas eve when hopefully some sales will have started or they'll be selling food reduced in the supermarkets.

[WombatChocolate]

OP, I think you know what the right thing to do is, but you are trying to justify to yourself,doing the wrong thing, because the right thing isn't very appealing.

-the fact that you don't like the LL is irrelevant to whether you pay or not....you could dislike lots of shop workers/owners, but if you are receiving their goods or services, you will still owe them money....it is the same the with LL - if you want to raise an issue about repairs not being carried out,then do so, but you don't do this by withholding rent at any time, and certainly don't use this as a way to justify not paying the Christmas rent.

-realise what will have a lasting and long term effect on your children - that will be disruption to housing/eviction/less choice of future housing due to bad references.....it will NOT be having a cheaper Christmas,mwhich will be forgotten in an instant. So, TAKE THE LONGER TERM VIEW, NOT THE SHORT TERM ONE.....having some extra money for Christmas (especially as much as £600) might make you feel better right now, but will create more problems in the longer term.

-Realise that the love and affection your children have for you isn't related to the £s spent at Christmas - feel more confident in your place and importance in the family. Lots of people have a £100 (or much less)Christmas to cover food and presents and are not failures and have a great time. You can too, if you decide you can do it. Approach it positively with the children and they will be able to as well. If you moan loudly that the LL has ruined Christmas, they will feel sad too....there is no need for it.

You are in an unfortunate situation. It is a real shame, but it isn't a crisis. Having a big expensive Cjristmas can be nice, but a cheaper one can be just as good. A crisis is losing your home.....and you don't want to take actions which might make that a possibility in the future. If you make choices now, which could result in later eviction, then THAT will be letting the children down, whereas a cheaper Christmas certainly won't be.

I can see you feel backed into a corner and defensive. It is understandable in your situation that you will feel like that. However, think carefully about the longer term repercussions of your choices and be the responsible adult now, even if it is hard. That's what your kids need from you most at Christmas and all of the time.

[YoungGirlGrowingOld]

Of course you should pay the rent first. However I suspect you only posted here because you wanted everyone to say "of course you need to put the kids first hun" to vindicate your choice to (potentially) shaft your LL!

I am also a LL and reading this thread has reminded me why I am selling up next year!