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Original poster

DONT FLAME ME! Benifits advice please help

18 replies

allgoodnamesaretaken · 08/02/2011 20:31

Ok, name changer here.
I am moving into rented house as its the only way we can afford to get a three bed house. We have huge debts and I gave up work last year to care for my disabled daughter. We can afford to pay our morgage but cant afford to move, its very complex, and for reasons that might out me I dont want to say too much.
So we decided to sell and move to rented. After selling house, and paying debts we have enough the rent in new area for a year. This gives time to find jobs ect.
However, I guess what I want to know is....
Im entitled to Income support, but is there a limit to how much they will pay on private rent?
I dont want to rent a lovely house, find something happens and we have to move if income support wont pay, iyswim.
I have never been on benifits so a little confused by it all tbh Blush
Do they also pay CT and water rates?

OP posts:
piratecat · 08/02/2011 20:41

they won't pay you if you have a lump sum of money in the bank. you are allowed a certain amount of savings tho. you need to find out.

how many dc's do you have? it depends on what you rent. ie if you have a three bed house and there are only 2 adults and one child you will only get as much as is right for a two bed iyswim.

even then, there is a capped rate on how much they will pay. you need to ring housing benefits in your area and ask them.

council tax, if you are entitled to income support will be paid in full, (again this also depends on how much savings you have)

they don't pay water.

I am not in touch with what you may recieve extra for your disabled child, but there is probably something, which your job centre could tell you about.

piratecat · 08/02/2011 20:42

I 'think' you are allowed to have 16k in savings.

TheVisitor · 08/02/2011 20:45

www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 Try this site. They'll give you the info you need.

expatinscotland · 08/02/2011 20:48

IIRC, that savings cap is being lowered or has been in some councils already, to £8000.

Any other lump sum you're not eligible for HB, so check your council website. Try to jettison it, don't. You will need to submit all your financial documents if they construe you've willfully deprived yourself of capital to get benefit they can deny it to you.

'but is there a limit to how much they will pay on private rent? '

YES! And new caps are coming in in April. So Google 'New housing benefit caps 2011'.

kormachameleon · 08/02/2011 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

expatinscotland · 08/02/2011 20:49

When it comes to HA/LHA, it is always better to go directly to your council's website.

Even DWP site (direct.gov thing) tells you that.

Original poster
allgoodnamesaretaken · 08/02/2011 20:50

I checked about savings and it said Im allowed up to 6K in savings but certainly wont have that much!
I have 2 children but because of disability they cant share anymore, so needs to be a 3 bed.
How do I find out the capped rate they will pay? I dont want to move again after a year or so, so would rather rent a cheaper place knowing they would pay if I needed. (hoping I dont but i need to plan)

OP posts:
Original poster
allgoodnamesaretaken · 08/02/2011 20:54

so here
it says a 3 bed will be capped at £340 but is that weekly or monthly??
oh bugger, there is no way a 3 bed would be that cheap here!! (if thats a monthly amount)

OP posts:
TheVisitor · 08/02/2011 20:57

Weekly!

earwicga · 08/02/2011 21:00

Just phone your council and ask them. They are the ones who regulate this, not Mumsnet.

pettyprudence · 08/02/2011 21:02

i think thats per week, but here in Cardiff it is lower than that and the council check local rates every couple of months

Original poster
allgoodnamesaretaken · 08/02/2011 21:05

ok, so should be ok. I have never been on benifits before but we are moving to new area, its all very complex and working depends on DD and how she is.
Houses Im looking at are between £800-£1000 a month. I dont think they will pay it all, but i just need to know in my head that if I need help that its there. Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
allgoodnamesaretaken · 08/02/2011 21:06

thank you earwicga but nothing is set in stone yet, so cant see how council could help tbh.

OP posts:
earwicga · 08/02/2011 21:08

The council can give you the Local Housing Allowances (LHA) and what proportion would/could be allowable depending on income.

louvert · 08/02/2011 21:14

Those figures on the DWP site are the absolute maximum. Each local authority will have their own specific figures. It's really important that you ask about it at the council in the place you're moving to.

Original poster
allgoodnamesaretaken · 08/02/2011 21:15

have managed to find out numbers from website (they dont make it easy!!)
Thanks for the help

OP posts:
Orangeflower7 · 08/02/2011 21:57

Hi could you go to the CAB (citizen's advice bureau, they could help

elsiemarley · 08/02/2011 22:12

Have you looked on this website? Its the gov one for HB, work your way through the site and put in the postcode of the area you want to rent in.

Council tax benifit should be covered by the HB form that you fill out.

There is also a map of local authority housing areas so you can see which areas pay what allowance.

Are you moving on you own with your daughter or with DP/DH too? If DP/DH is in work now but moving and leaving his/her job then HB could be tricky...if not, at least when you do go back to work you can clim HB top up until you earn enough.

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