Esa and housing benefit?

[cupcake69]

Is Esa contribution based used for determining housing benefit. I understand that once you have been put into a group either WRAG or Support you get extra money. Will I lose this money to housing benefit?

[worried33]

if its same as way IB works then yes, but not all of the money. But it depends on indidivual circumstances. On mine anything above the JSA level for housing benefit calculation is considered as excessive income, this year they added a buffer on top to allowed income only a small buffer I think extra £5 a week or something. Then anything above that allowed income a set % is taken off the housing benefit, for me is £8 a week. So £32 a month I have to pay to my rent out of IB. Also is some council tax as well as that works similiarly.

[id6052]

assuming this is a new claim and you are single

 

if your only income is contribution based ESA and you have capital less than £6,000 - then you would qualify for maximum HB/CTB

 

if you are awarded the additional ESA components for support or work related activity, an additional premium is awarded for HB/CTB to offset it, so you do not lose the components

[cupcake69]

Hi, no I am not single, I am married with children, hubby is on long term Incap benefit. We also get CTC.

I have only been on Esa contribution since Dec.

I am still on the assessment phase and have not heard anything from them about forms or medical. The reason that I am asking is that a person from Mind said that the extra component will not be counted against the housing benefit we are receiving. But while I was at CAB today they said it probably will.

Thanks for any advice.

[id6052]

whose name is the hb/ctb claim in? yours or your hubby's?

[cupcake69]

Its in my husbands name.