Housing Benefit

[louisag1992]

So I've recently lost my job - yay! Don't ask... but I was hoping someone could tell me when I would be entitled to the 2 bed housing benefit as I'm 24 weeks and wandering how I will pay the rent when I move which will obviously be before the baby gets here so the house is ready!

Get a form from your local council and fill it out. They will see what you're entitled to.

Try the entitled to calculator.

You won’t be entitled to the two bed rate until you have your baby. However you can apply for DHP until this.

I have tried the entitled to calculator and byebyebye is right, but I was just wandering how I'm expected to live somewhere before the baby arrives.

What's DHP? What are the chances of getting it?

Discretionary housing benefit. You have to contact your local council to apply.

Do you not have a partner?

how I will pay the rent when I move

Where are you living at the moment and do you have a new place to move to or are you homeless/planning on presenting as homeless?

Why assume I have a partner? It was an unexpected pregnancy and the father isn't around and if I did have a partner I wouldn't be asking these questions, nor would I be on the 'lone parents' feed. Single parents aren't unheard of.

I currently live in a shared house and I am planning to move in to a new place at the end of July/beginning of August but it appears I will only be entitled to the shared rate up until she is born.

Yes you will only get shared rate until baby is born. But if you are in a universal crest area then you will need to claim that from the Dwp job centre and not housing benefit

I volunteer with CAB - it is correct after baby is born you would be entitled to housing benefit up to the two bedroom housing rate in private rent.

Discretionary housing payments may be paid by the council to top up housing benefit or the housing element of universal credit.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-privately/private-renting/get-help-with-renting-costs/

(This relates to England).