Housing Benefit (striking out alone!)

[newmummytobe]

Hi ladies, i was wondering if anyone could advise me on housing benefit please? I am about to leave my ex partners house to move into private rented accommodation. I am currently working (in and office and from home) so even though there is only me and my son, i could really do with a 3 bed house so i have space to work. am i only entitled to rent a 2 bed property as there are only 2 of us, even though generally a 3 bed is no more expensive? hope i have made sense. if anyone has any more advice for me in being a new single parent etc i would be really really grateful xxxx

 

[Jade--x]

As far as I know they pay you on what you're eligiable for - If it's just you and your son you're only eligable for a 2 bed so they will only pay what they would pay for a 2 bedroom..Although if it's through private you can have a 3 bedroom but if it's more you have to pay it if that makes sense? My friend lives in a 3 bed and it's just her and her daughter but they won't pay her the 3 bedroom rate as she's not in need of it and she puts the rest to it herself.
They're bringing in a new law though that if you are in a house with more rooms than are used you get taxed - I'm not sure whether that's just on social housing or whether it's on private rented too and I'm not sure if using one for an office would affect that but would be worth finding out x

 

[newmummytobe]

thanks, i had no idea they were briniging in a new law so i will look into that. and thanks for claryifying the situation. i am happy to pay for a 3 bed, if i get 2 bed allowance. as i said, alot of the time 3 bed and 2 beds are pretty much the same price anyway so i may as well go for 3 and have a proper space to work in.
thanks again for your help x

 

[Jade--x]

That's ok hun I would ask your local authority anyway as I think each have their own rules on it and it's best to double check x

 

[pandaspot]

Hi

I am a housing benefit council tax benefit assessor. The law the pp mentioned is only for social housing tenants not for private sector.

You will be entitled to the 2bed rate of lha
You can check your lha rate here : https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

Check your entitlement here : https://www.entitledto.com

Hope that helps