Hi

So now even more pain in the backside housing benefit changes, denials etc! What the hell are they trying to do?, make everyone eventually homeless if they just happen to need to rely on a benefit!! FFS.

Housing benefit entitlement for an under 35 living in a house!

1. Is it that the rates have been cut, or just if your living alone in a house, you now have to share?

2. Is this only for privately rented house/flat etc?

I have looked at direct.gov website, MoneySaving Expert & Shelter & they all seem to pint out that these changes apply to just 'Privately' rented!

Can anyone please clear this mess up for me please!

gaz

1. Is it that the rates have been cut, or just if your living alone in a house, you now have to share?

You don't have to share. But you will only be awarded the shared room rate. That's regardless of how big your house is.

As far as I know it only affects private rental, the benefit amount will drop so they wont order you to move but instead just not pay enough money to cover rent in anything more than a bedsit rate.

It must only mean private rentals as there are hundreds of thousands of people all over the country that are on benefits that rent from a housing association or the local council!

What would happen then, all these people made homeless?? for gods sake because HB don't cover them! If its reduced to £60, there are very few places anywhere that are that cheap!

You may be able to claim discretionary housing payments from the council.

Hi

 

So now even more pain in the backside housing benefit changes, denials etc! What the hell are they trying to do?, make everyone eventually homeless if they just happen to need to rely on a benefit!! FFS.

 

Housing benefit entitlement for an under 35 living in a house!

 

1. Is it that the rates have been cut, or just if your living alone in a house, you now have to share?

 

2. Is this only for privately rented house/flat etc?

 

I have looked at direct.gov website, MoneySaving Expert & Shelter & they all seem to pint out that these changes apply to just 'Privately' rented!

 

Can anyone please clear this mess up for me please!

 

gaz

They are to reduce the level of HB that is being paid to under 35's if they rent privately.

The HB level that they will start to pay will be based on the 'shared room rate' instead of the normal 1 bed rate.

Either you make up the difference out of other income/benefits or move out.

You may be able to claim discretionary housing payments from the council.

I agree, but with the cuts that are being made I would anticipate that the 'pot' of money that the council hold in the future for this discretionary award will run out much earlier.

Yeh, i heard about discretionary, i called Shelter as its much nicer talking to them than the 1 dimensional robots at the council or Direct.gov.. It's very much worth applying for as thats what its there for!!

Ironic thing is, its the arses at Direct.gov, be it housing, ESA or whatever have put the person in this position & they are the reason for applying for discretioanary!! grrrr:mad2:

Yeh, i heard about discretionary, i called Shelter as its much nicer talking to them than the 1 dimensional robots at the council or Direct.gov.. It's very much worth applying for as thats what its there for!!

Ironic thing is, its the arses at Direct.gov, be it housing, ESA or whatever have put the person in this position & they are the reason for applying for discretioanary!! grrrr:mad2:

Yes, making the ill & needy pay for the governments mess ups with economy & banks. It should be Cameron & all his banking millionaire buddies that pay.

When you get your shared room rate, you must make sure that you're not sharing with anyone else; otherwise you'll get accused of LTHW or as if in a CP!

When you get your shared room rate, you must make sure that you're not sharing with anyone else; otherwise you'll get accused of LTHW or as if in a CP!

Yes that seems to be the way things are going at the moment.

friend of mine who works at my council said they have decided to fund the difference for 34 year olds who have not moved for at least 3 years out of council tax revenues (this possible?) and are considering it for 33 year olds as well.

The reasoning is not out of goodwill gesture although I am sure they will say it is, but rather as I suspected that the council see it as more cost effective to handle it that way and in the long term be cheaper.

Also when I rang up to send my new tenancy agreement as I planned to lock in my council for a year I was politely told over the phone if I send it in they will reevaluate me under the new law, they told me to not send it in and they will not review my case, I was told over the phone to backup what my friend said because I am close to been 35 they may decide to subsidise the difference.

My council is labour.