First time housing benefit help

[bther]

Hello,

I'm a single mummy and live with my parents but have been asked to move out. I am fine with this but I have a millions and one questions as I've never rented privately before - only a university owned student flat!

Firstly - I'm pretty sure I'll be entitled to housing benefit as I am on a pretty low wage. I've found the claim form online for my council but do I register an interest in a property first or claim first? If I claim first, would they tell me how much help I can get so I can work out which flats I could rent? I know there is an online benefits adviser but I don't find that very useful as there is no mention of housing benefit.

It feels like such a hard thing to go out there and do as I don't know what I need to do first and I don't know if I can ring up the council and ask them. I've been to CAB but the man was very unhelpful and mocked me because I didn't know how to go about things.

I am going back to work in October but as the cost of childcare is really high i don't think I'll be able to afford it so I'm hopefully going to get a job working nights at the hospital. If I go on JSA, what help do I get with rent?

Also, how do I know if I'm eligible for income support? I really want to move out ASAP but the financial side of it is really panicking me.

Sorry for a long post - I really am clueless. I need a step by step guide!

Thank you

 

[pandaspot]

Hi

I am a housing and council tax benefit assessor so should be able to help you

Best thing you could do is look at www.entitledto.co.uk this will give you a rough estimate as too what you can receive.

You could also ring your local council of you wanted they should be able to do a quick calculation for you and give you an idea of what you would be entitled to based on your earnings.

As you will be private renting your benefit will be based on your local housing allowance rates in your area. You can find out the rate in your area here : https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx you will be entitled to the two bedroom rate as its you and child. This is the maximum we could pay, as you are earning this will be reduced. If you were on income support, job seekers allowance (income based) or employment support allowance (income based) then you would be entitled to full hb and Ctb

With your council tax, you can claim a single person discount and claim council tax benefit.

You can claim before you have a property but the hb/Ctb dept won't be able to do anything till you move in. It's best to get the claim in as soon as you find a property.

Benefit is normally paid the Monday following your date of claim, however if you put in a claim and move in, in the same week your liability to pay rent starts, and its all in the same benefit week (mon -sun) then benefit will be paid the date your liability started.

Hope that helps