housing benefit

[chocoraisin]

I am struggling to find any information online about the thresholds for income to qualify for HB. I'm currently earning a reasonable but fairly low wage, and will be going on mat leave in 3 months (so earning bugger all) I find myself as a newly lone parent struggling to know how the hell I will afford two kids and pay rent... CM is likely to be piss all (XH is a student) so I'm really on my own with this.

Can anyone link me to an online calculator, or a list of the sliding scale? I know it's different regionally but I'm guessing not by a huge amount (I'm not in London).

any help/advice would be ace thanks

Turn2Us Benefits Calculator Not a bad place to start and will highlight anything to which you could be entitled. The HB rules are variable depending on the local authority as you say, so you'll probably have to go along to your council offices or housing department for specifics.

HB information for private tenants

oh dear :( seems like I am entitled to precisely zero. I feel completely stuck... my only income will be SMP from July, for 9 months. I can't understand how they work it out, how on earth are you meant to get by on roughly 500 a month, even with tax credits? with 2 kids? I need some proper advice I think :( at this rate me and the kids will be staying in my parents spare room for a bloody long time. Thanks for the links

It doesn't sound right that you aren't entitled to anything... Is it £500 a month in total, or are you not counting other benefits like tax credits etc?

My husband earns £500 a month, plus we get other benefits and we get full housing benefit, so it does seem very strange that you wouldn't.

I would get tax credits, it's all bloody confusing because this year my income would be closer to 900 a month but going into the next tax year it will be just mat pay really, and that would halve it. I know my tax credits will change and (possibly?) go up but the calculator still pops out with 0 for HB. I just feel in limbo and I have no idea what I can afford to even view. I think a trip to the CAB is on the cards...

If you're viewing rather than trying to claim HB for a property you're already in, why don't you make an application for subsidised social housing instead? As a lone parent with two children you'd probably score quite highly on their priority ratings

I would suggest you go and talk to them, ask for a form and fill it in anyway. They can only say no, also reapply when you stop work. Each time your income changes.

Are you a lone parent?

You should get child benefit which I think is disregarded. You can claim tax credits and if your income is too high based on the last tax year, you can ask them to do a change of circumstances I think. I have to admit I didn't bother claiming because I spoke to 3 different people and got 3 different answers.

On just £500 a month I would expect you to get some housing benefit. Have you got ridiculously low rent?