Hi started claiming ESA on 1st November this year filled in housing benefit claim form. The reply came today saying l'll have to wait 39 weeks for them to help pay my mortgage! Can anyone help with this problem?. l have no savings l am so worried Thanks in advance

When you make a claim for benefits, you will usually have to wait 39 weeks before housing costs are paid. This is a change to the previous waiting period of 13 weeks and applies to claims made from 1 April 2016.

If you're entitled to Guarantee Pension Credit, there is no waiting period and you can get housing costs payments straight away.

Existing borrowers

If you took your current mortgage out before 2 October 1995, you will generally have to wait 8 weeks before getting any help with mortgage interest payments.

You will then only get half of your mortgage interest paid for the next 18 weeks (4 months) of your claim. After this, you will have your mortgage interest paid in full.

New borrowers

If you took out a new mortgage (or remortgaged) after 2 October 1995 and claim Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance you will generally get no help at all with mortgage interest payments for the first 39 weeks (9 months) of your claim.

You will then have your mortgage interest paid in full.

Special rules

If you or your partner are aged 60 or over the Benefits Agency will pay the interest in full immediately with no waiting time.

You will be treated as an existing borrower and not have to wait the full 9 months if:

you don't have to sign on because you are caring for someone who is sick

you have had a mortgage payment protection insurance claim refused because of pre-existing illness

you have a child living with you and you are claiming Income Support because your partner has died or has deserted you.

The wife was claiming ESA for an ongoing health condition of which she is still receiving treatment on was on her claim.

Of course after assessment she had zero points, like everyone else.

She has sent her MR, but expects to go to appeal again.

Following advice from the DWP we "flipped it"

l was the claimant the wife l claimed for.

We now cannot claim for JSA as we are not fit for work.

They stopped her claim on 30th October the letter arrived 6th November with her P45 and all benefits stopped dead.

As you are paid 2 weeks in arrears she should have received the payment.

ls this true or not?

We feel destitute.

You will have to enquire with the DWP...I was only responding to the Housing element.

The wife was claiming ESA for an ongoing health condition of which she is still reciving treatment on was on her claim. Of course after assessment she had zero points, like everyone else. She has sent her MR, but expects to go to appeal again.

Following advice from the DWP we "flipped it" l was the claiment the wife l claimed for. We now cannot claim for JSA as we are not fit for work. They stopped her claim on 30 th October the letter arrived 6th November with her P45 and all benefits stopped dead. As you are paid 2 weeks in arrears she should have recived the payment. ls this true or not? We feel destitute.

Sounds familiar - they (the DWP) simply do not care at all. I have not had ONE PENNY for 6 weeks and am now in debt to the tune of £382 to my Father and £500 to a credit card (SO FAR) Basically the DWP are killing people and making them homeless and that is a fact