Discretionary housing payments

[Mumbackonherfeet]

Hi everyone, I’m here because I need some help, I’ve been advised to make a claim with my local council for a discretionary housing payment due to the fact I’ve been found a property by the homelessness team in a council with higher rent rates than the council I am coming from. Costs are also already significantly higher than expected.

before accepting and signing tenancy this property was very affordable (during the affordability assessments estimates are given for amenities and services), however upon signing the tenancy and registering for council tax, water and energy costs are in some cases triple the price that was calculated as an estimate, for example the property hasn’t been moved into but between the 16th and 31st of December the energy bill is £40 and the water is £59 with everything off? I’ve also been billed £400 for council tax for 3 months due payable on the 30th of this and next month.

this property is meant to be a fresh start for myself and the little one with me geared to return to university in September (before falling ill I was geared to be an MD), but a combination of Ill health and fleeing domestic violence has led us here. It looks as though we won’t be able to afford staying here and I will either not be able to heat the home or fall into debt, I do not want to make a claim so early in my tenancy and really do want to be back on my feet, does asking for a dhp reflect badly on a person?

my initial claim for UC is due to the fact that I am now chronically unwell having had at least one surgery every year since 2011 bar 2016 and claiming a dhp seems a step backwards. I’m using the little I’ve managed to save over the last 8 years plus the UC payment I received at midnight to pay this months rent as my housing costs haven’t been updated yet. As of midnight I have £4.06 to my name, with none of those bills paid.

id appreciate any advice or any organisation that can offer advice, I cannot sleep and this is giving me anxiety and insomnia, I’ve already tried refuge but as we now have a property we’re no longer in acute need of their help and they have since have been lacklustre.

thank you, please no judgement.

I also want to add that social services involvement is why I am reluctant to apply for a dhp, whilst I properly planned and budgeted to be in our new property I did not account for costs being significantly higher than estimated before even having moved in.

It wont be a problem with social, more so if you don't when you can..they like to see you accepting help where available, so would see it as being proactive with your situation.

I used DHP once when getting back on my feet. They put 100 on electricity and 100 food voucher.

Its different per council but i would think they could pay your bills directly this month then sort food bank. Would that help? Contact them today when they open and get i sorted :)

Also with UC you can apply for an advance to release a bit of money, then pay back like 10 a month. I did that to pay deposit

Thank you very much, I’ve done the advance already on getting littles a bed mattress and essentials, I didn’t realise it’s one advance so I asked for £250 instead of a higher amount.

Thank you, I didn’t want to look irresponsible because I really did budget with the homelessness team. I appreciate your reply.

Apply for the DHP and state your reasons why in detail. It doesn’t reflect badly on someone

My daughter works in the civil service, she says I'd be eligible for discretionry support grant. U don't have to pay this back too. Also she says to go to citizens advice. They LL tell u everything Ur entitled to, fill any forms in for u, help u with any debt and be able to contact some helpful organisations on it behalf. She says there are organisations that can help with furniture, food, clothes and have free groups for kids too. And they're all very discreet. Just reach out, there's always someone who'll help. Don't be afraid to ask missus.🤗🤗🤗

Also if you do see social soon and explain the temporary hiccup, they may have access to refer to other grant schemes. I cant remember where they applied too, but i got 250 from a family help scheme of some kind from a referral from professionals.

Dont panic, it does get easier. Its very stressful starting again from scratch. I remember many sleepless nights when i did 😅 thankfully in my rear view now.

@Pickles2023 is right. I've gotten help before too. P s.y daughter says apply for the discretionry grant before I start Ur course, u might not be eligible if Ur a classed as a student.🤗

@Mumbackonherfeet please don't think Ur irresponsible...Ur doing everything right! It's flippen hard to know everything. Go to the social, u deserve the help as much as we all did. U sound like a lovely mum and a responsible person to me.🤗

Speak to your social worker they may be able to access funds for things for your little one, food, electricity etc. they will be more appreciative of your honesty than you trying to manage and falling behind, not having heating etc

Suggest you also have a look at whether your council is offering support through the Household Support Fund. Every council has these funds this year to help families with things like food and energy costs but each one has their own criteria for distributing them. For example www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support/household-support-fund.

Also check the bills you're getting are accurate, based on your circumstances. Eg, you may be entitled to council tax benefit and may not have to pay anything for council tax, depending on your income. You may be entitled to lower water bills if you speak to the water company, either because they may be estimates based on a bigger family than you have and/or most water companies do schemes for people on a low income. No-one should be judging you for asking for help though, it looks much worse if you're not applying for these things to help your budgeting.

If this was the normal advance to see you over the initial five weeks until you received your first payment, there is actually another advance you may be entitled to.

It's called a budgeting advance and is usually in your account within a few days of applying. You can do this in your UC account online. Single people can receive a maximum of £348, I believe if you have children the maximum is £842.

Good luck with your new home! 💐

Thank you, I did the application this morning!

I went this morning to the library and was advised to phone up and apply for council support and a dhp, I think my council tax will be lowered by £10 a week from what the lady said to me.

ive uploaded all the evidence and hopefully something catches me for next month as it’s late for the month now.

I honestly didn’t know all of this existed, you guys have all really helped and it’s much appreciated! I get overwhelmed easily and was having some not so great thoughts but I’m glad I made this account now.

I got a budgeting advance not a first start one but thank you for your help. I asked for exactly what I needed instead of planning ahead, I didn’t want to be dishonest so when asked how much I needed I asked for what I actually needed!

You're welcome. I've been in the same position and really hope it all works out for you. 🌷

Found out I’m being billed on estimates and the water is unmetered so the monthly amount is set in stone unfortunately. I spoke to edf about pray and went on a thing called a 3 year tarrif, my standing charges? Are lower by quite a bit. The bills going from from £40 on both gas and electric to £17 in total! I’ve also been billed from the date the old tenant moved out instead of when my tenancy started AND the charges incurred when building and decorating were billed to me, I sent my tenancy and it should be sorted by Monday.

I don't think a dhp reflects badly on people but you do realize it is a short term payment. My concern would be that it may not even be awarded and also what will happen if you start to rely on it and then it ends?

Can you say which water company it is, as they all work slightly differently but they all have schemes and ways to bring your bill down if you're on a low income, especially unmetered where you're not even paying for what you use. If you say the water company I can give more accurate advice.

@Mumbackonherfeet , good for you!!! My daughter knows of the struggles I had and says she understands the people calling, cause I was one of them. She gives advice to ally family when they need it too xx

Thank you I’ve done one just waiting now x

Thank you so much. I am trying to keep us both safe but also healthy.