housing benefit - what really happens??

[poopeeplops]

I have applied for housing benefit but have heard that it wont be processed in time for my first payment due on my rent, is this true, should i have a safety money stash?

Any help on how it works, office council are being super unhelpful

Does your landlord know you will be getting benefits? If so, they may be understanding about waiting a week or two - mine were ok because I kept them up to date about it.

The claim was processed quite quickly in the end and only a few days over the rent day. But I rang the benefits office several times to check on my claim so that I was certain they had everything they needed etc.

It might be worth keeping in touch - seems to hurry them up sometimes.

mine took about 6 weeks to sort out and i was going in and ringing up a few times a week to hurry them along. it was a nightmare and i was stressing so much about not having the first months rent. i didn't want to have to talk to the landlord as thought he would want me out asap if i was unreliable at the start. so i saved every penny and sold a few bits nand just about managed to pay. the good thing is the council will backpay to the date you moved in.
just keep making sure they have everything they need. don't worry about keep going on at them, they will hopefully get bored of you and push your application through

I agree - push them!

If your landlord has had people on benefits before he'll likely understand what a nightmare they are. So if you can't manage to get all the rent together then have a word with him and maybe offer him what you do have.

thanx people for advice, he doesnt kno but agents do, i dnt want him knowing as hes a bit funny but im jus stressin bout the first monthas rent, roasted fox did it sort itself out after that? was there any other problems each montha after that?

i found once its sorted it was fine. do double check with how much you are entitle to as my local council told me it was £500 but then they forgot to tell me that they only pay £460 but do 13 payements a year instead od 12 so worked itself out but if you say rent one for £550 thinking you only have to add an extra £50 but really it would be £90 iyswim. i would just say save every penny you can just incase you do have to pay the first month which is very likely.

ok thanx for advice x

good luck

Yes, what others have said is correct. It takes about 6 weeks so you will need an understanding landlord, or some other source of income for the first month (though it does get backdated to when you first claimed).

Tends to run smoothly once it's all been worked out, but you need to tell them ASAP if anything changes, e.g. a partner moving in or a new baby or a new job/lost job etc. Also as roastedfox said, they pay four-weekly rather than actually monthly. I found having a separate bank account which only has HB going in and only has rent going out helped to simplify this.

it may not take 6 weeks - depends on where you are. My council has been very quick 2/3 weeks sorting it both times I've had to reply in recent years.

reply?? I mean apply