housing benefit come up short

[miliitant]

brother has just sent a text stating his housing benefit has come up short.

he was made redundant and made a claim for JSA 5 weeks ago

he has signed on twice, once three days after he made the claim, and the monday just gone.

he made a claim for council tax and housing benefit with the council and his rent is £400 per month

he has received two weeks job seekers allowance and the council has credited £184.62 into his bank account. now he made this claim over a month ago and the council has only credited just under half his monthly rent due at the end of this month

so

how has the council worked out his entitlement which has come up short

i know nothing on benefits so i am a fish out of water on this

[Bill-K]

Re: housing benefit come up short

Hi Mil. You may get a better reply later but here's mine for now. We're in Scotland, but I think HB calcs are the same across the UK. He should have got (or should get) a 'Determination Notice,' which shows how H & CT Benefit has been calculated.

With regard to the property being rented. His 'Eligible Rent' is one of the factors, and this is the amount which the Council deems as a reasonable amount to be paying for his rent. This is capped at various levels on various properties for various reasons - but the main reason is to safeguard against people living in huge mansions claiming full HB on them. When we were private tenants, our rent exceeded the 'Eligible Rent' ceiling for that property and our circumstances, and so we didn't receive HB on the full rent we were paying.

With regard to Income, the Council make two calculations. One is the 'Applicable Amount,' which is made up of various 'notional' allowances based on the claimant's personal circumstances, such as married or single, no. of kids under 18 and any other dependants in the property, etc., etc.

Next, they look at the claimant's actual earned income, and apply any 'Disregards' that may apply, which are amounts that are disregarded for HB Income calculations. Certain benefits ARE taken into account, such as HMRC Tax Credits. I'm not sure if JSA is counted or not. If, after all this has been added up - the claimant's Income is less than their Applicable amount, they will receive the full 'Eligible Rent.' If their income exceeds their Applicable Amount, then their HB is reduced by a percentage of this difference.

Sorry it's not very precise, but it's been a while since I last had to do this calculation myself. I'll certainly try and help if you can post a redacted Determination Notice.

HTH.

[labman]

Re: housing benefit come up short

Has he tried using something like this?

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

He can then compare the results of this against the Determination Notice (which often arrive AFTER a payment of benefit has been made) and question any differences.

Another factor is that the initial payments are often incorrect, and are adjusted shortly afterwards. A simple phone call to ask about all the above may resolve a lot.

[enaid]

Re: housing benefit come up short

Housing Benefit is paid in arrears, if you work out the dates it maybe that the next payment will show as the full amount and what your calling a shortfall covers the first part of his HB until his next rent is due.

[singlemom]

Re: housing benefit come up short

I receive housing benefit and I often find it fluctuates. Whenever there is a dramatic drop I e mail my local housing benefit bureau and ask how they reached the figures.
There is a cap as to how much help you are eligible for. Also, so many different things come into the equation. Children under 18 in full time education, dependants in full time education at university etc
Your local CAB will always go through the figures with you.

[miliitant]

Re: housing benefit come up short

as stated, i know nothing on the benefit system but i believe its because its all paid in arrears

he made the claim around the 15 october, you do not get benefit for the first 3 days. on the council website, it states that housing benefit is paid every 4 weeks at the end of the month so if the claim for housing benefit has just been agreed, that £184.62, would be arrears from the 15 october to the end of october and he should receive the full housing benefit payment at the end of this month

i do hope that makes sense as that is how i see it

[enaid]

Re: housing benefit come up short

Yes that is correct as I posted earlier, it will all work out hopefully on his next payment.

[miliitant]

Re: housing benefit come up short

thanks enaid

you were the key that unlocked the door in all of this, no wonder claimants find it hard to understand the benefit system, i had to ask for advice on it and i do not even claim benefits

things like being paid in arrears etc, they realy should make this information more accessible to the general public or is it done by design to discourage people from claiming

[enaid]

Re: housing benefit come up short

thanks enaid

you were the key that unlocked the door in all of this, no wonder claimants find it hard to understand the benefit system, i had to ask for advice on it and i do not even claim benefits

things like being paid in arrears etc, they realy should make this information more accessible to the general public or is it done by design to discourage people from claiming

This is the problem too when someone on benefits passes away, some are paid in advance and all but one I believe which is Carers Allowance (plus carers premium if you receive it)end on the day or at the end of the week that death occurs.

[jax50]

Re: housing benefit come up short

I think HB is paid every 2 weeks in arrears..

[miliitant]

Re: housing benefit come up short

i have checked with his local council website, its every 4 weeks at the end of the month (in arrears)

[jax50]

Re: housing benefit come up short

i have checked with his local council website, its every 4 weeks at the end of the month (in arrears)

Cool, must vary from Council to Council..:tinysmile_cry_t:

[miliitant]

Re: housing benefit come up short

brother has just got the statement from the council on his housing benefit and council tax benefit

my question is

does the benefit cover his full monthly housing and council tax costs

its just his housing benefit is £30 short on his rent which is £400 per months

will he have to make up the shortfall out of his JSA

his council tak benefit seems to be comming up a little bit short as well

[enaid]

Re: housing benefit come up short

You should have a break down of how they work it out and what if anything he needs to pay on both counts.

[enaid]

Re: housing benefit come up short

I suggest he runs through this

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

It also depends if its private rental or social here from Shelter is how its calculated



http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_ad...t_calculations