Housing Allowance

[GlasweJen]

I've finally got round to getting this letter drafted up, basically i applied for housing allowance after seeing on entitledto.com that i could claim and, well, any reduction in outgoings is appreciated at the moment since i had to leave my job. any imput for the letter would be appreciated.

Friday, October 12, 2007
Dear Sir/Madam,


I am writing with regard to my application for Housing Allowance. I sent my application online and then sent on details of my own income, my proof of being disabled, my letter of award for disabled living allowance and my flatmates incomes to yourselves by royal mail. I received a letter back saying that I was not entitled to housing allowance because I am a student, I have since found out from the Edinburgh City Councils own web page that this is erroneous as full time disabled students are entitled to housing allowance.


I will clarify my sitution further by informing you that I occupy my own bedroom at the address above and share the kitchen, bathroom and living area with 2 people who I am not related to and who do not pay me rent, I believe their bank details were requested in error and as a result I will not under any circumstances pester 2 strangers for their personal data, if you wish you may refer to any copies of their information that was sent previously.


In order to confirm who I am and make it easier for you to find my original claim for I will inform you that I am Miss ***** *****, date of birth is **/**/**** and my national insurance number is *********. At the time of my original application I stated I was an employee of ***** ******* ***** but I no longer work there, my P45 appears to be caught up with the postal strike but I will send a copy when I recieve it if you request it.



Obviously I am greatly upset that the city council did not give my application due consideration and as a result I have been struggling to pay my rent. I would like my application to be reconsidered and I look forward to hearing back from you within 14 days.
Regards,

Jenschnifer

[Ed999]

Read this thread: http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...t-arrears.html

Please DO NOT post any reply in that thread!

Any reply must be posted here, in the present thread.

[GlasweJen]

Lol Ed I'm not thick, I know where to post!

Also the thread you've linked me to is almost completely irrelevant, i'm not in arrears and I didn't say I was. I don't want to lose my room so rent is top priority, I've already checked entitledto and i did say that in the OP.

I was asking specifically for help with the letter, particularly from people who have been in the same situation with Edinburgh City Council or any of the other councils that issue Housing Allowance to private tenants instead of Housing Benefit as I understand they are different.

[GlasweJen]

bumpety bump

[Goldlady]

Jen I am not sure about Scotland but we have had a few issues with housing benefit and the best thing we did was involve our local MP. I used to work for the civil service and knew from then that if people even threatened to go to their MP the case was handled with kid gloves. We did involve our MP last year when local council refused to give us Council tax benefit as self-employed people - and we got it back dated

[GlasweJen]

Cool thanks Goldlady, as far as I know Edinburgh is the only place in Scotland with the allowance, it's mostly English places that have it so writing to the MP may well help. I'll give Edinburgh City a chance to reply first.

[Goldlady]

You watch them jump when MP's come into it - good sport

[callumsgran]

Good luck jen

[GlasweJen]

I got a letter back (very quick that lot) saying that yes there had been a mistake but i had to sit and re-do the whole claim again. Oh well

[lindyhop]

final point on that one. did you request back dated LHA to the date of your original application. you dont want them to start it from your new claim? unless you do of course.

and i hope you got a receipt of your submission claim form. it is amazing how many of these can go astray. a receipt covers you if your application goes missing and you need to make a further application and backdate request. same for providing hb with supporting documents.

lol

[GlasweJen]

I'll keep the reciept in mind, i only just got the new form today and it's not even been looked at for filling in if i'm honest, been too bogged down with other stuff. I've to send it back within 14 days and they want me to send my passport as well, they gave me an address miles away which i could go to to just have it photocopied but I'm disabled and travelling isn't all that easy.

[lindyhop]

Hi There

you are on DLA, ask them to do you a home visit! they should have visiting officers who visit 'vunerable' people at home. explain that you are not happy putting your passport in the post, plus it will cost you extra for recorded delivery, and who is expected to cover this cost for this?

the visiting officer has been trained on how to validate documents so once they have seen what they need to you wont need to put important docs through the postal system. whilst they are there they can also help complete any part of the form you are unsure about. alternatively, does your housing benefit team hold local surgeries so you dont have to go to their main offices? this may be easier for you if you dont want an officer coming into your home.

if they give you any grief about this ask for details of their policy on home visits. if they say they dont have one, and i bet they do, refer the matter to your local council (their employer) see how quick they come around to your home then. naturally you will need to show evidence of your mobility problem to get hb to do the visit to you.

lol

[GlasweJen]

oh duh not for the original form, I sent it online and never thought to keep the confirmation email

[GlasweJen]

Hmm, i'm filling out this form and I'm not sure what to put. On the letter they sent me they just asked for my own details plus proof which makes me think they don't want either of the 2 other tenants details. It also says on the web page that people under 25 will be given the rate for one bedroom and a shared bathroom and kitchen which is my situation anyway but the form asks for the other tenants details and evidence to back this up. Should I have a different form for people who live in shared housing because my situation just doesn't seem compatible with the form they've given me.

[lindyhop]

Hi again

you will be expected to give some details of the other people who live in the property. not their income details of course or other stuff personal to them ie NI number etc. your flatmates personal details should only be required when/if they are making their own claim for help with the rent.

what HB will want to see is a copy of the tenancy agreement which should show names of all parties (adults) on the tenancy. if say there are 3 of you, you will be claiming for one third of the rent. this point needs to be made clear to housing benefit otherwise they will think that your sharers are in fact part of your household, which technically if they are not your partner or child, they are not. it is a bit trickier if it is only your name on the tenancy as you may need to show evidence that the others are not part of your household.

if 1 household, all household members income are taken into consideration as hb/LHA entitlement is income based. if sharers however, your individual circumstances should be looked at seperately.

if you are under 25 the single room restriction will apply. LHA? their website will be able to indicate the maximum amount you can get if you qualify for the full assistance. standard hb single room restriction is currently approx £66pw, once again this amount will only apply if you are entitled to full assistance. check with them though that your DLA entitlement does not exempt you from the single room restriction rule. this part can also be double checked by a quick chat with someone at the CAB.

anything on the form you are not clear about phone up the hb team and ask to speak with one of their customer services team, who should be able to talk you through the form step by step. things can often be more confusing over the phone so do try to meet with them face to face, they can tell you there and then if addtional docs are needed and ask you whilst you are with them to fill in any gaps of information.

nearly forgot if you have a keyworker or sim, they can help you with the form's completion and liase with the housing benefit team on your behalf, also help ensure that you get all other state benefits that you may be entitled to.

dont worry about the prior email receipt too much, just get them to confirm by email that they received the earlier form and keep this new confirmation as your receipt.

ive now had my coca so im off to bed.

[GlasweJen]

CAB can't give me an appointment until late next week and they said i'm not disabled enough for a home visit . Completely stuck with all this stuff!

Should I write about my flatmates at part 3 where it asks "does anyone else like in the same property with you (apart from a partner or children you have already told us about in this form?)" it then asks their names, date of birth, national insurance, income and stuff.