Housing benefit entitlement

PetuniaPlum · 19/08/2021 18:20

Try the website www. entitledto.co.uk

Babyroobs · 19/08/2021 21:39

@MistySkiesAfterRain

Does anyone know how to find this out?

Supporting DS who is in the ESA support group and receives PIP.

He has been offered a flat which is £720 p/m and he says the max he receives is £710 but this might have changed. Would like to find out so I can assist.

He cannot make a new claim for housing benefit unless he already receives it currently ? He would need to switch to Universal credit. You can check the local housing allowance here lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Search.aspx He would be entitled to the one bedroom rate if on PIP even if he is under 35.

Danikm151 · 20/08/2021 01:36

Local Housing Authority search.
Can depend on age too

Nat6999 · 20/08/2021 01:57

Put all his details in entitled.co.uk it will tell you how much he can claim, he can stay on ESA but it will be deducted from his UC. Has he looked in to claiming PIP? That is not means tested but would mean he would get more UC.

Babyroobs · 20/08/2021 12:37

@Nat6999

Put all his details in entitled.co.uk it will tell you how much he can claim, he can stay on ESA but it will be deducted from his UC. Has he looked in to claiming PIP? That is not means tested but would mean he would get more UC.

The post says he already gets PIP. Being on PIP does not give you more UC, except if you are under 35 and you then get the one bedroom housing allowance rather than the shared rate. As he is in the support group of ESA he would automatically be awarded the LCWRA element of Universal credit but that is nothing to do with receiving PIP.

Babyroobs · 20/08/2021 12:38

@Nat6999

Put all his details in entitled.co.uk it will tell you how much he can claim, he can stay on ESA but it will be deducted from his UC. Has he looked in to claiming PIP? That is not means tested but would mean he would get more UC.

He could only stay on ESA if he is receiving Contributions based ESA which he may well not be if he has never worked. If it is contributions based ESA then it continues to be paid separately and then deducted from UC. If it is income related ESA then that would just become UC.

Original poster

MistySkiesAfterRain · 21/08/2021 11:46

@Babyroobs that was what I was looking for thanks. I knew I'd seen the entitlement somwhere, it shows as a weekly amount but rent is monthly, it will cover the new rent.

I haven't got involved in his benefits, apparently it was looked at a few years ago whether he should go to UC but he said he would lose out so he isn't applying and has stayed on ESA support group plus PIP. He worked for ten years. One thing I understood or heard is that under UC Housing Benefit is paid to the claimant, is that right? That would be a disaster for him as he cannot manage his finances at all. He would be homeless in months.

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Original poster

MistySkiesAfterRain · 21/08/2021 11:49

He was sectioned twenty years ago in his early 20s with psychosis and dx with schizophrenia.

How on earth I wrote DS, I meant DB!

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Herbie0987 · 21/08/2021 11:50

Housing element of UC can be paid direct to landlord.

Whiskyinajar · 21/08/2021 11:51

[quote MistySkiesAfterRain]@Babyroobs that was what I was looking for thanks. I knew I'd seen the entitlement somwhere, it shows as a weekly amount but rent is monthly, it will cover the new rent.

I haven't got involved in his benefits, apparently it was looked at a few years ago whether he should go to UC but he said he would lose out so he isn't applying and has stayed on ESA support group plus PIP. He worked for ten years. One thing I understood or heard is that under UC Housing Benefit is paid to the claimant, is that right? That would be a disaster for him as he cannot manage his finances at all. He would be homeless in months.[/quote]
A friend of mine works for UC and I believe he can ask for the money to be paid directly to a landlord after two months,

Original poster

MistySkiesAfterRain · 21/08/2021 12:27

Ah ok thanks good to know. That two months could end up a nightmare.

I ended up at a meeting with his support worker and the council where he had failed to apply for an overlap payment because he lost the paper and the Housing Association were basically about to serve an eviction and the council were saying well you didn't apply, you can appeal but that will take weeks, I ended up paying that day.

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flourella · 21/08/2021 12:42

Where is he currently living and how is he meeting any housing costs there? If he is receiving housing benefit now and moving to a property within the same local authority area, he won't have to apply for UC (and almost certainly shouldn't).

Babyroobs · 21/08/2021 15:58

Yes as above , he only needs to apply for Uc if moving areas. If he already has a Housing benefit claim and is staying within the same local authority , he can just update his Hb claim.

Original poster

MistySkiesAfterRain · 22/08/2021 19:16

He lives in a bedsit and receives housing benefit, he's been nominated for a flat in the same town. Thank you for the replies.

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muffindays · 22/08/2021 19:18

He may have to cover any difference himself. £10 per month is not too bad if there is no alternative.

Original poster

MistySkiesAfterRain · 31/08/2021 18:25

Hi, DB was invited to view the flat this afternoon but they cancelled as they have not received his reference yet. They said not to worry as his current Housing Association are notorious for being slow at returning references.

They said they want to meet him in his property later this week to find out why he wants to move.

I thought it sounds a bit ominous but I guess they need to continue the process while they wait for the reference.

I said to DB that whatever was put on his housing application that meant he got put to the top of the list he should tell them, and also tell them about himself. I also said to ensure the flat is clean and tidy.

The reasons he was put to the top of the list were that he was a victim of county lines. He thought at the outset they just wanted to have a barbecue and he was lonely. Then he got entrapped in this situation where he was terrified to tell anyone what was going on for several months. They forced entry and assaulted him and threatened him with a knife. The police gave him a bar for his door. He also had a neighbour who was abusive who lived above him, who called him gay and other things, who got evicted in the end.

I'm not sure how much the new HA will get to know of this past, or whether it goes against him.

DB was once given an order to clean his (recurringly damp) bedsit (which I helped with) and they then renewed the tenancy for five more years.

He also got into arrears on his gas, electric and water. The water now comes out of his benefits and the gas and electric are on a meter with the debt coming off that.

I'm panicking as it doesn't sound like he is a very good tenant. He has paranoid schizophrenia so he gets jumbled sometimes. I don't particularly want him relying on me but I will help to prevent him becoming homeless i.e. ensure paperwork is sorted so rent is paid and that he has a hoover to keep it clean and help problem solve any major issues. The flat is 2nd floor so more secure than ground level street entry. He cooks for himself, draws and paints and goes for walks, and keeps his current flat relatively tidy, doesn't hoard.

Does anyone have any advice or know what they might cover in the meeting?

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Original poster

MistySkiesAfterRain · 02/09/2021 13:10

They came. They asked about how he manages daily and the cuckooing.

He doesn't think he got it but they will let him know later today.

Will wait and see.

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TheQueef · 02/09/2021 13:14

Fingers crossed Misty I'm sure the HA have plenty of experience with circumstances like your brothers.
I hope he gets a good outcome.

Original poster

MistySkiesAfterRain · 02/09/2021 13:18

Thanks @TheQueef. I hope so. He didn't say much as he couldn't get his words out.

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Hockeyboysmum · 02/09/2021 13:22

Fingers crossed for him

Original poster

MistySkiesAfterRain · 02/09/2021 15:38

He got it! They said they had not got his reference yet but they liked him and he can pick the keys up tomorrow!

He said he thought they took one look at him and thought they don't want him here. He said he could cry and he might cry tomorrow when he gets there. I could cry too!

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TheQueef · 02/09/2021 15:50

Oh smashing
That's lovely news, for both of you.
What a great fresh start for him.
Give him a nudge to get his new utilities set up for pre pay ready for him so no build ups.
If he will need furniture and white goods start having a look around, around here British Heart foundation have good shops if budget is tight.
Also rugs if it's LA and no floor coverings are in.

ThreeFeetTall · 06/09/2021 17:01

Hi, I've worked as a HA rent officer and we can request direct payments from UC straight away if good cause (which there clearly is), up to UC whether they grant it though. Ask the housing officer to request it - if your brother wants that.

ThreeFeetTall · 06/09/2021 17:16

Sorry just saw he could move his HB, ignore me!

Original poster

MistySkiesAfterRain · 07/09/2021 00:29

Thank you, they are sending a form. We found the gas meter and are sorting utilities. He is looking at charity shops for a sofa.

The floor is concrete where carpets have been pulled up and vinyl in the kitchen and bathroom, so we are looking at putting some vinyl down if we can afford it.

Its not damp, so happy. He said he wants for nothing. It feels really safe.

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