hi didnt know where to ask for some advice my issue is. i live in home a new build 2 years old that came with a garden shed .. now a window in the shed was smashed by local kids and i called my housing association to have it repaired which they wont, they say it was gifted to me when i moved in. which is fine its of very poor quality and i would gladly replace it with a better one. but they informed me i cant remove it as its their property, yet they wont do any repairs now its worse for wear due to all the snow we had etc so any idea what i can do .. the thing is cheap and frankly crap yet i cant remove it and they wont fix it ..i am not fixing it as that would be just throwing money away ..they claim ownership of it yet wont maintain it so my hands are tied till the roof collapses. i contacted my local council but they can only deal with private landlords not housing associations

Mike Dailly of the Govan Law Centre has written a guide on how to challenge a decision which can be downloaded from here: http://www.govanhilllc.com/brtax/ Although written with a Scottish audience in mind, all of the arguments apply equally in England, Wales and NI.

A Scottish housing guide for people leaving the armed forces and ex-service personnel This is taken from the Scottish Government Link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/04/3247/1 Deciding where to live is one of the most important choices you and your family will need to make on leaving the armed forces. It is never too early to think about where you will set up home. Whether you are due to leave in a few years, a couple of months or have already left, there is support out there to help you.This leaflet sets out your housing options in Scotland and answers some of the questions you might have. It also gives you information about where you can go for further advice and support. What are my housing options? Your options depend on where you want to live, your needs and your situation. These options could include renting a property privately or through a council,housing association (sometimes known as a registered social landlord) or anex-service charity, or buying a property. The local council for the area where you want to live will be pleased to give you advice on your housing options.Contact details for all Scottish councils are listed at the back of this guide. What about renting privately? Renting privately can provide you with a home either for the short or the long term and give you greater choice about where you live. Private landlords will advertise properties through local newspapers, magazines, estate or letting agents and on property letting websites. You will also usually need to pay a rent deposit at the beginning of your tenancy. This will be held in a tenancy-deposit scheme and you will get all or part of this back when you move out if you have kept the property in good condition and paid your rent and bills. All private landlords have to register with their local council. You can check if a landlord is registered on www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk. (remove spaces) I want to rent privately but I'm having problems saving for a deposit If you are having problems saving enough money for a deposit, rent-deposit or guarantee schemes may be able to help you. These schemes provide a financial guarantee to the landlord on your behalf. They work in a number of different ways. In some schemes, you repay the deposit over time and it is given back to you when you leave. In others, you won't need to pay the deposit back, but you may have to pay money to the scheme if the landlord does not return the full deposit to the scheme because of damage or unpaid rent or bills. The local council will be able to give you details of rent-deposit or guarantee schemes in their area. How do I apply for a council or housing association house (also known a social housing)? You need to fill in a housing application form. You can get this from the council or housing association. Your council will be able to give you a list of housing associations in their area. In some areas you only have to fill out one application form for all social housing in that area (this is sometimes called a common housing register), in others you may need to fill out more than one. What happens next? The housing providers will use your application to decide your level of priority and you will be added to each landlord's housing list. Landlords are likely to ask you for a copy of the Certificate of Cessation of Entitlement to Occupy Service Accommodation once you have it. The Ministry of Defence issues this six months before you leave the armed forces. This certificate will let the landlord know the date you have to leave your service accommodation and they should use the six months to help you look at your housing options. Don't wait for the certificate before applying for housing. Landlords have different ways to decide who gets housed across Scotland. Your priority will be based on your housing need and situation. Generally, the higher your priority, the more likely you are to be offered a home, but this also depends on the needs of other people on the housing list and the size and type of houses that become available. Some landlords will contact you to offer a house,others will advertise their properties (giving you a greater choice about the properties you are considered for). Social landlords must publish their rules on how they let their houses. You should speak with your council or housing association to find out what they do. How long will I have to wait for a council or housing association house? This depends on the area you want to live in and the type and size of home you are looking for. In many places, there are not enough council and housing association homes for those who want one. This means that waiting times can be very long even for those with a high priority, and to get a home quickly, you may need to look at renting privately. Your council or the housing association will be able to give you advice about your chance of being housed. Your local council should also be able to provide information on other housing options to help you find something suitable. What about housing by ex-service charities? There area number of charities across Scotland that provide housing for ex-service menand women and their dependants. All of these charities are members of Veterans Scotland and you can apply to all of them for housing using a single housing application form. For more information, including how to apply, visit Veterans Scotland's website at www.veteransscotland.co.uk. (Remove Spaces) I'm worried I won't be able to pay my rent If you aren't able to pay your rent you may be able to get state benefits to meet these costs. There are rules, and how much benefit you get depends on your circumstances. Also, the way your benefits will be worked out will depend on if you rent privately or with a council or housing association. The UK Government,who is responsible for most state benefits, is making a number of changes to the way benefits are calculated and given out. This may affect the amount of benefit you get. You can get more information on benefits, including how to apply and any changes that affect you, from your local council or from the UK Government's website, www.gov.uk. Your local citizens advice bureau (CAB) can also give you information and advice to help you access all the benefits you are entitled to. You can find out where your local CAB office is on their website, www.cas.org.uk,or you can visit www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland,their information website. I'm thinking about buying a house but I'm not sure where to start There area lot of things to consider when buying a home - where to look for properties, what mortgages are available, the size of deposit you need and when you need to involve a lawyer. To help you, please see a booklet called 'Buying and Selling a Home in Scotland' at www.consumerfocus.org.uk/scotland/housing/publications(under Consumer Guides). I heard it was possible to buy a house without paying the full cost. Is this true? Yes. Some private house builders offer shared-equity schemes. Shared-equity schemes are a form of low-cost home ownership. They allow you to buy a home in partnership with a private house builder, who gives you an equity loan for part of the purchase price. The Scottish Government also offers support to help first-timebuyers get on the property ladder through its Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT). If you are currently serving, have left the armed forces within the past 24 months or are a partner of a member of the forces who was killed in action up to 24 months ago, you will get priority access to the shared-equity schemes that are a part of LIFT. Under LIFT, your income and finances will be assessed to check you are eligible for help and you can apply to buy either a property on the open market or a new-build property from a housing association or a developer. You can get more information about these schemes from the Scottish Government's website at www.scotland.gov.uk/lift. I have a small deposit to buy a home but can't get a mortgage. Can anyone help? Yes. If you have a good credit record and need a 90% to 95% mortgage for a new-build property with a value up to £250,000, you may be able to get a mortgage through the MI New Home scheme. MI New Home is a private-sector scheme open to anyone looking to buy a new-build home who is finding it difficult to get a mortgage due to the level of deposit mortgage lenders usually ask for. More information about the scheme is available online at http://minewhome.co.uk/. Help! I can't find anywhere to stay If you are in this position you should contact your council as soon as possible to let them know you may be homeless, and ask to speak to a member of staff in their homeless team. If you haven't been discharged yet, you should also speak to a member of your welfare team, who may be located at your base or another base in Scotland, as soon as possible. This team will also be able to give you some support. In Scotland, all homeless households or those threatened with homelessness (if you don't have anywhere to stay or your current accommodation is not suitable or you are at risk of losing it) must be given temporary housing and free information and advice by local councils. If the council find that you are homeless through no fault of your own, they must find you housing, but you maybe offered somewhere temporarily before accommodation becomes available. I was injured during my service and need support and adaptations to my home or future home. What support can I get? The type of support you can get depends on your circumstances. However, whether you rent or own your own property, you should get in touch with your local council's social-work department. They will be able to tell you about how to have your needs assessed. If you rent from a council or housing association they will usually pay for any agreed essential or high priority adaptations. If you rent privately or own your own property, you may be able to get help to pay for any adaptations. You can get more information from your council. The Scottish Government also has a guide to the support available for disabled people who own or privately rent their home. The leaflet is available on the Scottish Government's website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/03/31131031. There are also a number of other organisations across Scotland who can help you understand your options and provide advice on independent living and the benefits you may be entitled to. UPDATE Scotland can help you to find local advice on independent living and the benefits you may be able to get, as well as a range of other disability-related information and services. Website: www.update.org.uk Phone: 0131 669 1600 Housing Options Scotland's Military Matters service provides specialised housing advice and support for disabled ex-service personnel and veterans with a disabled family member in Scotland. They provide support to those with a physical disability, mental-health problem (including post-traumatic stress disorder) or learning disability. Website: www.housingoptionsscotland.org.uk (Remove Spaces) Phone: 07713482697 or 0131 247 1400 Email: [email protected] (Remove Spaces) What else do I need to think about in finding and keeping a home after I am discharged from the armed forces? There area number of things you will need to think about. Costs -You will need to make sure you budget for and pay your rent or mortgage and any household bills such as council tax, fuel and phone bills, TV licence, and any service charges or maintenance fees you may be responsible for. You should also think about whether you need building and contents insurance. It is worth finding out what these costs are likely to be in the size of house and area you want to live. This will mean you can prepare for these costs so they don't come as a surprise. Furniture- Whether you rent or buy, many properties are unfurnished. You may want to think about saving to help you buy the things you will need when you move out of service accommodation. If you cannot afford the essentials you need, speak to your local council, Shelter Scotland or SSAFA Forces Help who should be able to tell you about any furniture projects in your area that may be able to helpy ou. Details of how to contact these organisations are below. Where can I go for further advice and help? Your localc ouncil, or the council in the area where you would like to live, will be able to provide you with information and support to find a suitable house. Many will be able to provide you with a housing options guide for their area. There is a list of all the councils in Scotland at the end of this leaflet. As well as the welfare officer at your base, there are also organisations that provide specific advice and support to men and women who have served in the armed forces. ■ Citizens Advice Scotland's Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP) provides free independent, confidential and impartial advice and information to the armed forces community on a range of issues including housing, employment, benefits, debt and relationships. You can call their helpline on 0845 231 0300. Website: www.asapadvice.org.uk ■ MOD Joint Service Housing Advice Office provide civilian housing information, advice and, where possible, arrange housing through housing associations for service personnel and their dependants and to ex-service personnel who are still living in service accommodation. Phone 01980618925, visit their website at www.gov.uk/housing-for-service-personnel-and-families#joint-service-housing-advice-office or email them at [email protected]. ■ The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency was launched by the MOD to improve personnel, pension, welfare and support services to members of the armed forces and veterans. They also have five Veterans Welfare Service Centres across the UK. Phone their free helpline on 0800 169 2277 or visit their website at www.veterans-uk.info. ■ Haig Housing Trust and Haig Homes offer help with housing and have homes for ex-service personnel and their families to rent across the UK. Phone 0208 685 5777 or visit their website at www.haighomes.org.uk. ■ Poppy scotland provide financial help and access to mobility services and short breaks to meet the needs of veterans and their families in Scotland. They also lead the Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP) and run a wide range of schemes to help ex-service personnel back into work. You can call them on 0131 557 2782 or you can visit their website at www.poppyscotland.org.uk. ■ Scottish Veterans Residences provides single-room en-suite accommodation with catering and support services as well as some independent flats. Phone 0131 556 0091 or visit their website at www.svronline.org. ■ Scottish Veterans Garden City Association, Houses for Heroes Scotland, provides low-cost rented housing in Scotland for disabled British ex-service personnel, merchant navy, police and fire brigade personnel. Phone 0131 557 1188 or visit their website www.housesforheroes.org.uk. (Remove Spaces) ■ Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help provides advice through its Housing Advisory Service on 0207 463 9398, through their website at www.ssafa.org.uk or through one of their local branches. They also have a confidential support line on 0800 731 4880. ■ Veterans Assist Scotland provides online access to information and advice resources from one single website.Topics include housing options, how to claim a War Disablement Pension, and finding a route into employment. Website: www.veterans-assist.org ■ Veterans First Point offers help and assistance to veterans in Lothian, whatever their needs are. Phone 0131 2209920 or visit their website at www.veteransfirstpoint.org.uk. (Remove Spaces) ■ Veterans Scotland brings the veterans charities and organisations in Scotland together to support the ex-service personnel community. Phone 0131 550 1595 or visit their website at www.veteransscotland.co.uk/pillars/housing (Remove Spaces)

I received a letter stating my Housing Benefit would end in December. I hope to have a job before then but what if I don't get a job? Is there any other benefit I can claim instead?

Hi, This is probably a stupid question, but my next Housing Benefit Payment is due today and I've not recieved it. Now I know it's a bank holiday and that they are new changes in the benefits (I got the letter for it, I get a bit less than I previously got, but nothing much). My question is: will I get it today or another day? Should I contact my LA an ask? Thanks in advance

I mentioned this earlier in someone elses thread so I don't know if it was picked up on so maybe someone might like to comment on this strange analogy by my local council. According to the latest award letter from my Local Authority they have stated that for my Housing Benefit the MINIMUM I need to live on is £305. Council Tax Support the MINIMUM I need to live on is £278 I know that in their wisdom they have decided not to include certain elements of benefits, therefore making your 'excess' income higher and so you pay more Council Tax but I think someone has seriously messed up here, or is it just me being pedantic. How on earth can you have 2 different MINIMUM amounts to live on depending on which bill you are paying ? I have tried getting an explanation from the 'Help Line' but the best I can get is "it's because of the changes in Central Government" .... I gave up after 10 minutes trying to explain that you can only have one minimum amount, cos if you have 2 different amounts only one can be a minimum. I then noticed that on my award letter they said my Weekly Council Tax Liability was £18.11, so having got a bee in my bonnet I checked my Council Tax Bill, which is £944.42 for the period 01/04/2013 to 31/03/2014 (52 weeks). For the record according to the Benefits department and going off my Weekly Council Tax Liability they stated, the total for 52 weeks(1 year) = £941.72 a difference of £2.70. I know it's not much but I am getting really wound up by now by getting no reasonable explanations, so I phoned the Council Tax Office and asked them how much it should be per week on my property over the year, you really couldn't make up the reply I got, "It depends how many weeks you work it out over":doh: I eventually managed to get through to her, that it was her department that sends out bills for a 12 month period, 1 year, 52 weeks ...... it doesn't matter how you pay or how many weeks you work it out over the property has a yearly/weekly Tax Liability. So she worked it out eventually and came up with £18.17 weekly Tax Liability. A difference of 6p to what the Benefit Office are saying. She advised me to speak to them about it as it was them that sent the letter, by this time I'm thinking there is a problem here, Council Tax Office, Council Tax Benefits Office and I'm getting 2 different amounts quoted from each .......left hand right hand spring to mind. So I phone the Benefits section and question the difference, and they said you would need to phone the Council Tax Office about it, I explained that I had and they said speak to you and she offered to phone them on my behalf. At this point I had already got a rope hanging from the bannister, so I just hung up sat down counted to 100 and thought......... what the hell have I just achieved. NOTHING.. I am no wiser as to any of my questions at all. Pete

Hi All, I recently applied for a discretionary housing payment after my rent arrears hit £600. I've been awarded a payment from April 2012 to September 2013. I've been informed by my landlord that they (my local council) have so far made a payment of £1,100 for the period 12th April 2012 to 17th March 2013, then payments will be made monthly until September 2013. My question is regarding the money I struggled to pay during this period. Although I fell into arrears, I still made payments (for my son who is unwell but not in receipt of any benefits as he refuses to leave the house or claim any form of benefits)to my landlord and wanted to know if there is anyway I can claim this back. (the money I paid during the period, not the DHP money) I don't mean to sound greedy but I had to sell my washing machine and fridge to make payments on the rent and struggles to pay other bills and food when all along there was help out there for me. My son is now receiving help from social services so fingers crossed he will be on the road to recovery. I hope the above makes sense and am greatful for any help you can offer. Thank you.

Hello, I wonder if any of you may be able to advise me, I had my third child back in September and am about to go into my 3 months of unpaid maternity leave and I am in the process of claiming some housing benefit to help us through. Naturally the council expect me to return to work at the end of the three months. My problem is, I work (normally) 4 nights a week from 10pm until 8am. However, with three children I don't feel that I'm going to be able to manage it and would like to speak to my employer about changing/reducing my hours. If they should say no and I leave my employment, would housing benefit be withdrawn? My husband works 23 hours a week for the same employer and they won't budge on his hours (won't increase) and, quite often, they are in direct opposition to mine......meaning that when he works in the day I would have to be up all day with the baby, then go to work that night. I just don't feel that I'll be able to manage but, I don't feel that they'll be too accommodating with flexible working or letting me change my contract. Any advice would be most appreciated, TIA.

Hello, I privately rent a 3 bed house and have done since april 2009, We were lucky in finding one which was priced at LHA 2 bed rates as we had a son and a daughter both under 10 so they have to share under the lha rules. My son turned 10 in january 2011, meaning we were now eligible for a 3 bed. I did ring the council then and they said we were not entitled to any extra money due to husbands wages. Our rent has now increase to slightly over the LHA rates for a 3 bed and I did send council a letter from our landlord. His letter is dated march 2012. I have since checked my letters from the council as he recently became unemployed and on the new council housing form we recieved it stated weekly eligible rent £150. (LHA rates for a 3 bed in our area are £173.09). Having questioned this yesterday as my husband is back at work and wanting to give new salary details. The man told me that since January this year we have been underpaid and will recieve a refund... Now in january I recieved a letter saying my benefit was going up from £42 a week to £59.59 (letter stating change of liability) Yet when payments was not increased I contacted them to be told it was a system error and they have no details of this letter being sent payments were still £42 a week. Now however my claim has been adjusted to my eligible rent being £173.08 a week instead of £150. Yesterday whilst on the phone to this council man I had another letter delivered dated 24/Feb/2013 saying my benefit was being increased to £66.90 a week due to annual uprating and this will start on 1st april 2013.. (this is based on husbands old job). Im waiting for the paperwork from yesterdays phone call to come before I contact council again... I have looked at all benefit letters and the local LHA rates which since April 2011 have been £150 for a 2 bed and £173.08 for a 3 bed. These are the figures I have since my son turned 10 and just before his birthday. Date eligible rent LHA for 3 bed 15 dec 11 £149.59 £173.08 17 jan 12 £139.08 18 jan 12 £150 01 apr 12 £150 02 apr 12 £150 08 aug 12 £150 Now these are the ones I have from 2012 and my benefit varied from £33 to £45 a week but these payments have been based on the eligible rent of a 2 bed when since 25 jan 2012 when my son turned 10 I was eligible for a 3 bed.. Since this year I have recieved letters 15 jan 13 £167.31 £173.08 Benefit to be increase from £42 to £59.59 was told this letter was a MISTAKE and no increase.. 14 mar 13 £150 £173.08 New adjusted claim due to JSA application... questioned it man rebating us since mid Jan (due to system error) letter recieved 18 march but dated 24 feb 24 feb £178.85 Does this seem that I have been under paid and if so is it likely I will recieve the money back as I have some rent arrears and I could clear it with the refund.. Also is it best to question it in writing or over the phone? Thanks vicki

Can anyone tell me if I would be able to claim the service charges on a retirement flat. I would like to move but it would take the capital I have invested in my current property to do so. My income (I am retired) means I will need to claim Pension Credit and Council Tax Benefit. Although I am currently self-employed this will have to stop soon as I need to care for my mother but this will not be enough hours to claim carers allowance and, because I get my state pension I would not get anything even if/when she needs more care. Thanks for reading.

Hi all, I have been asked to leave my current tenancy, and I'm in the process of trying to find another place to live. My local council (Merton) have told me they cannot help, and that I would need to find a new private tenancy. I am just really struggling to find anyone who will accept DSS. I receive Housing Benefit, ESA (support group) and DLA (low mobility and middle care). If anyone knows who I can contact that would accept me, that would be brilliant. I want to stay local, so I am looking to move to Sutton, Morden, Cheam etc. Thanks all.

Hi Could anyone advise when the HB and JSA run on scheme finishes. Just waiting on the outcome of a 3rd stage interview and I have a nagging doubt the scheme finishes in April??? Am I right???

how can someone stop hb is a family a couple with 2 kids and the husband just started to work full time and want to cut off the housing benefit what should they do

hi new here wonder if someone can help,iam on esa incolm related i get my hb and ct paid,my daughter is at univercity,she finishes her course on april and doesnt start back till augaust it is a continous course,will i have to pay hb and ct for the months she is not at university.i had alot of problems when she was at college and finished for the summer,with hb and ct,because she did not sign on jsa,finaly got it sorted out,do i have to imform hb and ct when she finishes on april for her break and will i have to pay any hb and ct when she is not at university,as the last time they looked at her bank statements to see when her student bursary finished but wanted me to pay a certain amount for hb and ct because she did not sign on jsa

Hello all, I'm hoping somebody can help. I'm having a lot of trouble with housing benefit claims. I work part time and my hours can change abut the amount of benefit they allow me never seems to reflect a drop in earnings only when my earnings go up do my benefits seem to drop. I'm trying to sort that and have been for a number of years. I give up sometimes then a situation arises that starts me on the campaign again. Anyway, the point I'm looking into now, alongside all the rest, is SALARY SACRIFICE. I have a bike through cycle sheme. I didn't look at the small print when I joined, all I knew was that you get a bike of your choice on hire from your employer for a year to travel to and from work. You sacrifice part of your salary to pay for it, which reduces your gross income . After the year you have the choice to extend the hire for a year or so for a % cost of the bike, then it's yours! That is a simplification. The question I have is this. If it reduces your gross pay, shouldn't this reduced amount be the figure benefits are calculated on after tax and NI? Pension is also taken from gross pay before tax, thus reducing gross pay again but housing benefit only allows 50% of your pension deduction to be allowed off your gross earnings. Is this the same with salary sacrifice such as cycle scheme or childcare vouchers? Part of the reason I'm asking is nobody at my local authority seems to know! I also read that more well off families are using salary sacrifice to reduce their gross income so they can still get child benefit. Any help very gratefully received. Thank you.

Hi, On the 25th of January i called my letting agency to report a faulty shower and was informed that my housing benefit payments had been reduced by £80 a month since October. I contacted the council office that deals with the claim and they told me it was because of an overpayment in housing benefit paid from April 2012 to September 2012 which they were claiming back. The council adviser i spoke to claimed it was because i was getting £71 contributory ESA, £28.15 work related component and £8.90 transitional addition during this time. Now here is where it gets confusing because from January 5th 2012 i had been appealing an Atos decision and was therefore only receiving the £71 basic rate of Esa. I won my appeal on July 2012 but i continued to receive the basic rate of esa until September 2012 when i finally had my payments restored and my money backdated. I've spoken to the council on three separate occasions regarding this matter and been told three different reasons. The latest reason given is that since the DWP backdated my money then they could backdate the overpayment. By far the worst part is that the council never informed me that they were going to reduce my housing benefit which has resulted in a large amount of rent arrears and the letting agency telling me that the landlord is considering serving me notice to quit. Any advice you guys can offer would be appreciated and if you need any more info, just ask.

http://www.phhsl.co.uk/uploads/7/1/5/0/7150053/universal_credit_-_a_summary_of_key_changes_and_implications_for_housing_.pdf

Ive started at Uni im 42 with two sons living at home in full time education. I am a tenant of South Kestecen council in Lincolnshire. I was on ESA for a back injury but ive lost that because atos wouldnt give me a second chance interview as i missed an appointment due to illness, so we are living off child benefit ,grants and my student loan and £5 a month CSA. Ive handed all of my documents into my local council to claim housing benefit and theyve calculated i have to pay £82 a week for an £83 rent !!! yet another lady who is on the SAME course and lives in the SAME town but is in a private let property, shes getting £350 housing benefit and shes only got 1 child ! how can this be so????????? its totaly unfair ive read that only my student lond and bursary from my university can be taken into account when calculating housing benefit, which y total nothing more than £6000 approx, can anyone advise me please as im worried sick and its affecting my health.

We claimed housing benefit for a few months last year when is was unable to work, in my wife's name. Recently she has had letters from the council claiming that the benefit had been over paid and that the council were seeking to recover just over £1000 in overpaid benefit. Having checked the figures myself it seems we do owe the money, but the the council are being rather unreasonable imho in coming to an arrangement to repay. I was wondering what options the council have open to them to persue this further if I were to start simply sending them a monthly cheque for what is can afford, rather than continue to bang my head against a brick wall explaining that i just can't clear it in 3 months and feed my kids at the same time. Can they get a liability order and send in bailiffs as they do for council tax arrears or would they need to go for a CCJ where we'd get another chance to negotiate sensible monthly payments? TIA Mat

Sorry this is a long winded, but here goes. January 2012 we moved into our present home,which is a four bedroomed property. The landlord reduced the rent as he wanted to be paid HB directly to him. The rent was agreed at £825.00 pcm, LHA rate was £725.00 pcm, we pay a £100.00 pcm shortfall directly to him every month. The advertised rent for the property was £1100 so he reduced it by £275.00. He did say when we had been here 12 months the rent would go back up to the £1100.00. We weren't concerned about this because by then we were entitled to the four bedroomed LHA rate as our son reached 16 early in December and as our other two children, a boy and a girl are 9 and 12 we knew were entitled to a four bedroomed property. Early in December the LA assessed our claim again due to a change of circumstances (son reaching 16) they then paid 100% of the rent meaning we didn't have to top up. In January the rent increased to £1100, the council were informed of the proposed increase in November. The LHA now came in at £950.00 pcm leaving us to top up £150 which we felt we could afford, as i am severly disabled and the house is ideal for me we felt it was worth the extra money. A few days ago the council contacted me to tell me although we are DEFINATLY entitled to a four bedroomed property and the LHA that goes with it, BUT they can't pay it, because due to my son becoming 16 this resulted in a change of circumstances hence changing the anniversary date of our claim. So what was January 23rd now became December 4th. They went on to tell me that an increase in the rate can only be considered on the anniversary and not before. So this meant they can't pay the rate we are entitled to until December 2013. I have applied for DHP but we were turned down for that as well, because the DM decided to take into account my DLA. Although it is disregarded for HB it is totally up to the DM if they decide to take it into account for DHP. Totally at a loss now what to do, this house has been adapted for my needs, stair lift etc so i really don't want to move. Any help would be great Many thanks

Hi all, Firstly I hope this is the right place to post this. I have just joined having been referred here via a friend of a friend. I am in the 30-34yrs group, have chronic illness and disability, am in receipt of ESA and DLA (mid-rate care, high-rate mobility). I moved to my current 1-bed flat a year ago. Housing Benefit was awarded, pre me informing them of the change in care rate (from low) as per the previous rules of being entitled to a 1-bed place on my own. I noticed my error in not informing them when I got the paperwork through, and my Housing Benefit subsequently was raised. I was told I got this and also not the single room rate because of my mid-rate care component. Today I get a letter from the council and they are now saying because I don't have 24hr care, and thus don't need an extra room, that I am only entitled to shared accommodation. I reminded them, on two phone calls, that mid-rate care exempts from this under-35 single room rate. The first clerk told me this wasn't the case and asked the housing officer who confirmed. I did my research and found on Shelter's site it indeed confirmed the exemption rule by which I qualified. I called back, and was told, yet again, that this is wrong and actually government legislation says 24hr-care for an extra room was your only exemption. I had only just agreed a 6 month contract on my place, and currently I now have to find about half the rent per month. Because of my severe health issues, a house share is not viable, and nor is making up the short fall until I'm 35 due to all the extra costs being chronically ill and disabled incurs, which is some way off! I know I'm in the right and the council are in the wrong. I have contacted my MP and they have this afternoon emailed my council. I'm scared though. What if they don't budge? What can I do? I'm also scared of being made homeless. I have to have a place of my own - I have allergies that, if I house shared as you normally would, could quite literally kill me. Even amongst the few friends who I might usually call upon, it would require them to make such huge changes in their lifestyle and diet that it's just not realistic.

Hi there I know it sounds bit odd but only yesterday I realized that I was probably overpaid housing benefit by around 10 months. I went to turn2us website and used calculator to calculate my benefit entitlements and all answers where ok,apart hb,it says i only should receive around £7 a week . I changed house in February and started working in march,I remember posting them information about my new job,but do not have proof and actually never received any paperwork back, They started paying me £189 month and taking away £40 for previous overpayment (£880).I think I owe them around £2800(10x189+900) I cant believe how stupid I was not to realize this earlier,it seemed to be good to be truth . This is doing my head in,been crying all the time since yesterday,I cant care after my 2 month old baby properly,because on my mind I have only one thing- what will happen to me?will they prosecute me?I'm going to council tomorrow,with all the paperwork and try to assure them that I'll pay every penny back. oh god,I feel so stupid,that I could let this happen and it possibly will ruin my future plans ( training to become a nurse),if I get criminal record or caution any advise is welcome p.s sorry for writing mistakes,english is not my primary language

Hello Everyone, I would like some advice with regards to a pensioner who receive State Pension and Pension Credit including Housing Benefit. The person want to go abroad to warmer climate during the severe UK winter. The person suffer from severe breathing difficulties and other ailments and is in his mid 80s. Can someone please advice me how long can a person be abroad before their benefits stop and housing benefits as well. I have a guess about the benefits but the Housing Benefits I have no idea at all how long a person can be away and still be able to claim housing benefits. Any reply would be much aprpeciated. helen

Hi Are there any housing benefit staff that come on here? I am getting so frustrated at the moment, apart from still waiting for my first months accounts back (last april) I don't feel I can improve in my self employed work. I know I can make more profit but am too scared to. I am down for £100 per week profit self employed, that's what my housing benefit is based on & am now scared to go over that. But I want to build the business up! I don't understand how it all works with housing benefit. I only have to pay £26 per week towards my rent at the moment. I don't mind paying more, but I can't guarantee that EVERY month I will make more than £100 a week profit. So if I get my income re set to say £150 per week, I am then tied into earning that every week? Can anyone give me advice on this as common sense isn't my strongest point, & maybe I am missing something? I have a self employed friend in a different part of the country doing the same business & she says her housing benefit is set at a certain amount & doesn't change for the year no matter what she earns. But I have no idea if it's the same everywhere? I did ask the housing benefit woman at my self employed interview at the council about it when I first claimed last april, but I didn't really get a clear answer..

Hi, I have just received from my local council a overpayment Invoice for £1267.52. I am mystrified to why since I was on Income Support/JSA until I commenced work in 2008. I informed all concerned about this and all seemed well until now. I see how they can make this decision 4 years down the line, and demand this from me. I have tried to contact them via the conatct call centre and the local council offices, which the first I may no contact as I was hung up on or left on hold for ages, and the people in the office simply stated they cant help you have to go through the call centre, which I pointed out they are not helping.. Can they do this this far down the line ?, I know about the Statues Barred etc.. but this would not apply to this, where do I go with this? , as I have had these supposed council guys at my door before and about repoing my car as I had not paid my fine, which I had but in a payment plan which they didnt even look up until I showed them and they looked on their system and confirmed it, they said they could take what they wanted with out court orders etc.. ?, is that true they are above the law in this respect ?, I have my doubts but I am worried that this may again happen ?. So any advise please would I would be most grateful. Regards