discretionary housing payment?

[tiasmummy]

hi im 33 weeks pregnant and have just made a homeless application. am waiting for this to be considered but my advisor has told me its probably best to try privately renting. oviously as i havent gven birth yet im only entitled to the 'single person rate' of housing benefit but she did say they may consider giving me a discretionary housing payment as im soon due to give birth. has anyone done this while pregnant? along with the rent deposit scheme?

 

[pandaspot]

I haven't claimed it but I have worked as a hb assessor for the last 13 years.

Yes you can claim this, it just takes into account all your outgoings and incoming money. It is discrectional so it's depends on what the assessor decides and it's only meant to be used as temporary measure until your circs change.

Just make sure you will be able to afford the property when your lha rate changes to a 1 bed property. You could claim a dhp then tho as well

The dhp money pot has been increased loads due to the decrease in the lha rates

 

[tiasmummy]

thanks for the info do you know roughly how long it takes to asses the claim? as im worried that by the time the claim is assessed someone may have taken on the property x

 

[v2007]

My OH applied for the DHP, he asked for £25 a week, he got £3

V xxx

 

[pandaspot]

It totally depends on your area and how much outstanding work they have. They should by law issue a payment on account within 14 days of receiving your if they haven't assessed it within that time frame.

The dhp will be done after the hb is assessed.

V2007- the amount you receive is really based on the assessor who does the claim, and how much money is left. It changes throughout the year how generous we are

 

[tiasmummy]

oh ok im with croydon council pandaspot well actually i used to be with bromley now moving over to croydon? does that matter? will i still get help coming from a different borough? and v2007 mine is for my deposit and first months rent xx from what i read online they say its 'good practice' to help a heavily pregnant woman move into suitable accomodation in this way. calculating deposit and 1st months rent it would come to £1,700. i will ask the landlord if i can pay just one of these up front then it will only be £850 im paying. he does know im on housing benefit so hopefully wont ask for too much fingers crossed.

 

[tiasmummy]

sorry pandaspot another question. it will be before i actually move in to the property as its for deposit/first months rent so will they still wait for hb to be assessed?

 

[pandaspot]

No they won't need to assess your hb before as its being used to pay deposit. Where I work we haven't yet used dhp money for deposit money as its pretty new legislation. I won't be advise further, well until monday anyway, when I can look at the legislation we were sent about it. I am on the bus at the moment, half day lol

You could give them a ring regarding it? Sorry I can't help anymore. Funny enough I was going to ring my manager about it today so I can find out the rules for it. I can certainly advise Monday If you want to wait?

 

[tiasmummy]

yes that would be great, as if im not elegible my only way for getting the money wud be a crisis loan xx

 

[tina_h75]

I applied for DHP as there is a shortfall of over £50 each week for my rent and they awarded me £6 a week, so I wouldn't rely on this for help.

 

[pandaspot]

Hi

Sorry for the delay in replying.

Check first of all whether the council do a bond scheme, then the dhp can help with the first months rent. That's the way it works for the dhp in advance where I work

Would probably best to give them a ring to check