Housing Benifit

[GypsyGSD]

If pensioners are awarded housing benefit in a 3 bedroom privately rented house they move to a two bedromm house with lower rent would there benefit be reduced to they only have state pension as income

[EDDIE51]

This is a benefits calculator it will work out what they are entitled to
http://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou?gclid=CMb6vbvU8sMCFQoEwwodokIAdA
I have used it many times it is very good and accurate as long as you put the correct information in.

[murraymints]

HB is awarded on a sliding scale depending on income and savings...and also local housing costs....there is a maximum threshold for savings £16k in Scotland..savings under £6k mean you are entitled to the maximum allowance (depending on income ) but sliding down from there to £16 k

[EDDIE51]

just noticed you say they only have state pension. In that case the £200 is definitely wrong . They must be due at least LHA amount for their area.
Also as pensioners they are classed as 'vulnerable' and get automatic priority for local authority housing . Get them to apply for social housing. Once they get that they will pay no rent or council tax at all. They will only be allowed a 1 bedroom place though.

[Peter Pedant]

Hi babies

Yup know all about this

They make a fresh claim and they will be assessed on their needs, income and the rent - previous properties do NOT come into account for this

The COULD make a application for a pre-rent determination
( I am not sure if they do this now )
which tells them if they will get the benefit claimed for the rent
( it says whether they will get all their rent paid or just some )

HBD is now LHA and has various different properties
It is (almost) ALWAYS paid to the tenant and then they pass it on to the Landlord. The tenant cannot choose to have the LL paid direct.
The LL can apply to have it paid directly to him IF there are arrears of two months

and it comes in 13 4-weekly installments which means that everything balances in month 12 but they are always in arrears up til then

er that is about it

[Peter Pedant]

the effect of the changes to bedroom tax is to divert the housing sector to one bedroom accommodation and er there isnt any

or wasnt any - and there appears to be no plans to build any

good example of unintended consequences of legislation

[GypsyGSD]

Again thank you all I have spoken again to the couple there rent is 675 Monthly they get 80 pound discretion payment and 160 housing benefit the husband has 50 pound private pension the wife 12.50 all paid monthly they have no other income except there state pension his is 187 and hers 110 both are paid weekly they also get 13 pound towards council tax any more advice will be welcomed

[Peter Pedant]

so they pay 675 - 80 - 160 which I think is £435 themselves

I think therefore that if the rent went down to £500 then they would pay £435 and the govt £65. Interesting to see what the others say.

It is difficult to say what will happen about the discretionary payment as it is .... discretionary

so actually in answer to your question:
would there benefit be reduced to they only have state pension as income

I would answer a certain yes

there may be other views

[GypsyGSD]

Thank you peter that is a great help I think as they both have health issues to stay where they are and not move again for a while as there are not many two bedroom propertys near there daughters they need two bedrooms due to the health problems and hopefully social housing will help in due course sad really as they have worked all those years but a few heart attacks stopped all there future plans in retirement x

[EDDIE51]

The health problems give them even more priority for social housing , get them down to the local housing office 1st thing tomorrow morning. Make sure they let the housing officer know all the details and problems so they get the maximum points. Can you get their landlord to issue an eviction notice? that would mean they HAVE to be housed by the local council as an emergency . You get nowhere unless you know how to use the system to your advantage