Hello All, Does the 13 week protection cover the council tax as well. The council tax of my house was on higher side. Also the council has reduced my house rent entitlement by the amount lodger was paying. And it has used the lodgers rent to reduce my council tax benefit as well. How can they use the same income for two reductions?

Okay Friends, I post my questions on two different forums in anticipation of different views on the same matter and getting it asap. For the same reason that some of the senior members visit more than one forum and make such discoveries. Can my question now be answered please? Thanks for your replies.

Hello All, Can you please tell mw what is the "13-week protection" offered for Housing Benefit. Is it still applicable as of Apil 2013? I lost my job on -20-April-2013 and I used to live in house with a rent of £1300.00 with a lodge who used to pay £350.00. Also I have never been on Housing Benefit in last one year. Given this, Should I not get £1000.00 as housing benefit for the 13 weeks?

Hey Antone, Thanks for the reply. I am clear on issues related to claims based on my wife. Why can I not be on income based JSA (~£112.00) from first the very beginning (on my own and not because of my wife)? Its quite ironical that if I have paid NI for last two years, therefore I will get the lesser, contribution based JSA. Is there any reason for this. Also if I have mortgage to pay, then will I get the SMI ( support for mortgage interest) if I am on contribution based JSA?

Hey All, I understand that if the wife is on Dependent Visa, then one cannot claim the expenses needed to support her. Also can you please tell me what will happen after six months? Will I be moved to Income based JSA? Will the weekly amount then be some £112.00? If so, I am really curious to know as to Why does the benefit increase after six month?

Thanks Antone for your reply. Yes. My wife is dependent on me. Also will I have to pay tax on the £71.59/week I have recieved?

Hello Friends, I became unemployed from April this. I am on ILR visa and my wife is on Dependent visa and she was pregnant when I applied for JSA. The question is am I not eligible for the income based JSA (£112.00) as opposed to contribution based JSA(£71.59) given that my own needs are enhanced because I have to take care of a family (wife and the child). IS there any legislation which prohibits me from getting Income based JSA. Also Does anyone know why one gets lesser JSA (contribution based £71.59) when he/she has paid NI than when he/she had not paid NI (Income based £112.00). Many Thanks for your replies.

Frequent change in underlying law does not make the court devoid of guarantee. Also there is always a date with which a new law would apply. I know that court rulings are sometimes overturned by an upper court. But that still does not allow one to say that there is no guarantee at court. The court does its best. One may not go to court because court has its own way of working and which can be stressful for claimants/defendants but not because there is no guarantee at court.

Raydetinu, Why do you say something like "No guarantees with a court!". Is it not a contempt of court? I believe courts give decision based on evidence and not on dice. If the LL can prove something which takes the case in LL's favor, so be it. In no way does it mean that there is no guarantee at court. I would say there is a full guarantee of fairness at court, based on evidences. The courts cannot go beyond evidences. No one should feel dicey about the judicial system. Also I understand that in a civil matter, neither of the parties is supposed to produce an evidence that has not been shared previously with the other party. Based on all the evidences, the suing party has to make a decision whether he/she wants to proceed to the court. You cannot say something which erodes confidence of general public from Judicial system. Please don't say that you meant something else. Its quite clear from the whole paragraph. What say?

Well if I have to go to court, I will give the case to "No Win No Fee" solicitor. My question is weather given the circumstances, a 2x settlement is good enough.

Now Its the time for LL to face me. Once I receive the deposit amount, I would use this amount to pull him to the court for 3x the deposit. Will try to settle for 2x deposit without going to court though? What do you guys say? This LL did not protect my money for four years and insisted for a new contract every November so that he be rest assured for the the Six months no break period? Besides this he did not send the PI for the deposit which, which he protected only after I chase him. No EPC, No GSC and bogus post tenancy claims of over £1300.00. Do you think 2x would be a reasonable amount? Please advise.

Hey, I got the mail from DPS ADR. They have decided that the full deposit amount should be handed over to tenant (me) and that none of the LL's claims are valid. The LL wanted more than £1300.00. Funny he was. Now that the decision has been made and the DPS has said that they will transfer the deposit to my account within 5 to 10 working days. Is there anyway the landlord can stop the transfer from happening?

DPS is going to make the decision on 28-Aug. How many does DPS give to LL to agree or disagree to their adjudication?

Hey Raydetinu, If the matter is brought to the SCC by either party, Will the SCC take notice of delayed protection of my deposits by the landlord ?

Hello Friends, Can you please tell me that if either the landlord or the tenant is not happy with the DPS adjudication, what can their next course of action be: Small Claims Court or County court? Also, Can they stop DPS from releasing the payment until the dispute is resolved by the court?