Housing Benefit

[bloodbinds]

For people who are on Housing Benefits or are looking to be on Housing Benefits i'm wondering what the best course of action is.

If i were to move into my new flat this weekend (17.10.09) should i send off for housing benefit straight away (Will be entitled to about £50 a week) or should i wait the 3/4 weeks until baby is here then will be entitled to a lot more? Or should i send off for the housing benefit and then tell them of the change of circmstances once baby is born?

Or does housing benefit take ages to come through? So by time i get anything through from them, baby might already be here? Will they backdate?

Basically, should i wait until babies born before i bother sending off for anything? Or might i may as well apply for what little housing benefit i will be entitled to and then just tell them of the change later on? (but then would that make everything go a lot slower?)

Argh, so confused. any help/advice is welcome!

 

[Hollys_Twinny]

hey hun they backdate from when they are in receipt of your application..so youd have to apply as soon as you moved in or you'llbe left with a bill

my uncle (being a man) fart arsed about thnking theyd backdate it but because he didnt have a good enough reason for not applying sooner they wouldnt foot the bill

hope that helps

x

 

[Kimboowee]

I would just do it now and ask them how quick it would be to change it once babys here

 

[DizzyMoo]

Hun you defo need to do it now, Because they will not backdate the last 3/4 wks unless you have a very good reason of why you didn't claim. They will do anything to not pay it, So you need to get your claim in now & then once baby is born you have to inform them of birth to get the higher rate paid. You may be asked to refill in the forms but its better that way. x

 

[bubbles]

Apply ASAP, when LO is born let them know and they will probably just request the birth cerificate (best to get a couple of copies as you'll need one for CHB too) have you looked into Council tax benefit aswell? Generally if you are entitled to HB you'll be entitled to CTB aswell

 

[EstelSeren]

Hon, we've been jumping through hoops trying to sort out some sort of housing benefit for 3 1/2 months now (and still going on!!) so definitely get the forms in as soon as you can!! At the moment I'm just thinking of the back pay and not that we can't afford the rent next month!! If it carries on for much longer though I will be seriously considering making a complaint, especially as our council goes on about being 'green' yet wastes tons of paper on sending separate letters for things that could have all gone in one and then they give prepaid envelopes with the wrong address on!! I'm thinking I'm going to have to actually burst into tears in front of them instead of just at home and then they might start to get the message! That said, I don't actually think they read the evidence you give them properly- they couldn't read our contract and now they've told us we've told them our rent has increased, which is news to us as the letting agent was quite happy with the cheque we gave them at the start of the month for the same amount we've been paying for just under a year!!!

So, yeah, assume they're stupid and will take a while to get the message and apply straight away so you at least get paid something from the start, even if it takes a while to get to you!

Beca :wave:

 

[bloodbinds]

Hey, thanks girls, very helpful! and to think, i was going to put off applying until LO is here! But sounds much better to get them filled in quick!! lol.