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Original poster

UC & housing advice for single parent please!

13 replies

indieray · 16/04/2023 18:38

Hi I'm a single parent to ds6 & I work part time and get UC top up and receive zero maintenance from ds father. The housing association house I've lived in since ds was 1 years old is now being knocked down to make way for a new development. Housing association has given me 4 months notice to move. Unfortunately don't have any other housing association
Houses close to my sons school available but have said I will still receive UC as normal in a private rented house. I currently have 2 bedrooms and have seen a house which is available very soon and it's a 3 bed
And 2 mins from my ds school! I worked out I can still apply for it but will get the benefit cap as it's a 3 bed. I will lose £150
A month in benefits.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation before? Or have any advice at all
I'd be much appreciative. Thanks xx

OP posts:

Ilovethewild · 16/04/2023 18:43

Depending on your tenancy, and assume assured by length of time, the HA are required by law to find you suitable alternative accommodation before the 4 months.

this can’t be private rented as that’s a different tenancy type.

it can be council or HA

go back to them and find out what they are planning.

are others affected?
contact shelter for housing legal advice

disabilities may exclude you from bedroom tax, but you don’t need a 3 bed, others do.

Whichnumbers · 16/04/2023 19:04

go to council and get back on social housing list, HA are just trying to get you out - go and get advice on this as you are being evicted and private rental is not as secure as social renting. 6 Months down the line you could be served a section 21 and then back to square zero

do not give up your tenancy freely, go and get advice

Babyroobs · 16/04/2023 19:07

If you move to private rented then Uc will only pay the 2 bedroom local housing allowance for your area so yes you would need to find the rest yourself. As others have said, surely the HA have a duty to re-house you. Private renting will be insecure and private rents can just keep rising and rising above what you can afford.

Original poster

indieray · 16/04/2023 19:33

I suffer from mental health problems and I've been in contact with the HA and citizens advice too & they've advised as the HA have offered me another property but it's 10 miles from
My sons school and I'm not prepared to move him unfortunately.
I understand I will have to find the extra money for the extra bedroom. If the rent did go up , would I still eligible for uc help with rent increase ?
Thanks everyone for all your advice xx

OP posts:

Suzi888 · 16/04/2023 19:42

Are you in Wales or England?

Doodar · 16/04/2023 19:57

As he’s only 6 I would move schools , you’d be mad to turn down a HA house.

Babyroobs · 16/04/2023 19:58

indieray · 16/04/2023 19:33

Uc will only pay up to whatever the local housing allowance for a two bedroom property is in your area. You can apply for a discretionary housing payment from the council if you wish to help with the shortfall but this is usually only temporary help.

Whichnumbers · 16/04/2023 20:17

can I ask why you would not move schools for your dc? if to means you have a more secure home in the one run could it be the better option?

Flowersun6 · 16/04/2023 20:20

Would the HA actually offer you a 3 bedroom you don't need though?

In all honesty I think to be paying £150 is quite a big chunk to cover as extra. Rents go up yearly. I wouldn't do it if I qas you.

Ilovethewild · 16/04/2023 21:01

Op, as difficult as it is to think about moving schools or travelling to a school you really are thinking short term.

things change in childrens lives.

giving up a secure home is madness and the HA can’t give what they don’t have.

you should involve mental health specialists, any health specialists for your child and other professionals involved with you in this case but if they have offered you somewhere you are foolish to refuse it. You could always try and swap or move in future with the HA, but you have no housing security in private rented and would struggle to get back to a HA flat.

people wait years for them, and you’re giving it up cos of a few miles?

nothing others can say will help, you have already decided. Private rents increase hugely, UC won’t cover it all, you will be worse off.

at least someone else will get that property who needs it.

good luck,

Original poster

indieray · 16/04/2023 23:59

It's not that I don't want a ha house I love my home but it's unfortunately being demolished! So I'm going to reconsider my options with the other house 10 miles away and look at the house they have offered me again it's still a two bed which is fine with us. I'm glad I've had different opinions from people as this is what I needed I have been in private rent for quite a long while and forgot a lot of things x Thankyou

OP posts:

Lizzt2007 · 17/04/2023 00:10

Presumably you're receiving the rent allowance now for your current home op. So that will be the rate they would pay towards your private rented option, they won't pay any more you'd have to pay the difference between what your getting now and the new rent rate. Bedroom tax doesn't apply as it's only on local authority housing, not private.

justanotherdrama · 18/04/2023 16:38

Private renting is insecure they can sell any time and it's riskier and more money; I'd have a really careful think about it all but given a Housing Association house that's probably a much better option financially but don't let them not agree to help you find something suitable

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