Post by Beryl on Dec 8, 2010 14:56:08 GMT
Housing Allowance:
Before April 2008 any financial assistance paid to an individual by the Council to help fund the rent of a property was called Housing Benefit. This was the same whether the property belonged to the Local Authority or rented from a private owner. Since April 2008, Housing Benefit is only claimed by people who live in Local Authority housing and Housing Allowance is applied for when some moves into privately owned property.
Like Housing Benefit, Housing Allowance is means tested and savings for someone under the age of 60 must not exceed £16000. People on low wages may also be entitled to claim Housing Allowance.
Unlike Housing Benefit this new benefit may not cover the full rent that is being charged by a private landlord. Even if the person receives means tested benefits, the rent may not be covered in full.
To determine the level of Housing Allowance someone may receive and as well as the person being financially assessed, the property an individual wishes to rent will be assessed by the Local Housing Authority. The assessment will include whether the property meets the needs of the resident; whether it is considered over and above what the individual requires; for example, the property may have three bed rooms and only one has been assessed as needed.
Once the size of property a person needs is determined it will be compared to the average rent for such a property in the area. The average rent for an area is decided in the latter days of the previous month by the local council. The average rent is published on a monthly basis and may vary from month to month.
If the resident meets the criteria to receive Housing Allowance at the full rate then they will be given what has been assessed as the average rent for their area for that month.
If the rent being charged by the landlord is more than the Housing Allowance which has been awarded then the individual must pay the balance themselves. If the rent being charged is less than the average rent in the area and the person qualifies for full Housing Allowance, then the person may be slightly better off and may be able to keep the balance.
Any changes in a person's circumstances must always be declared.
A person who is disabled and lives in privately rented accommodation where the rent is above the average for the area must seek individual advice from the council and from a benefit adviser. There may be an argument to be had that adapted property to meet the person's needs may be more expensive or that additional rooms may be needed to meet the needs of the disability. To get the room dimensions that someone requires when they are a wheelchair user may mean that they have had to rent a bigger property to start with to accommodate the needs of the wheelchair for more floor space.
Before April 2008 any financial assistance paid to an individual by the Council to help fund the rent of a property was called Housing Benefit. This was the same whether the property belonged to the Local Authority or rented from a private owner. Since April 2008, Housing Benefit is only claimed by people who live in Local Authority housing and Housing Allowance is applied for when some moves into privately owned property.
Like Housing Benefit, Housing Allowance is means tested and savings for someone under the age of 60 must not exceed £16000. People on low wages may also be entitled to claim Housing Allowance.
Unlike Housing Benefit this new benefit may not cover the full rent that is being charged by a private landlord. Even if the person receives means tested benefits, the rent may not be covered in full.
To determine the level of Housing Allowance someone may receive and as well as the person being financially assessed, the property an individual wishes to rent will be assessed by the Local Housing Authority. The assessment will include whether the property meets the needs of the resident; whether it is considered over and above what the individual requires; for example, the property may have three bed rooms and only one has been assessed as needed.
Once the size of property a person needs is determined it will be compared to the average rent for such a property in the area. The average rent for an area is decided in the latter days of the previous month by the local council. The average rent is published on a monthly basis and may vary from month to month.
If the resident meets the criteria to receive Housing Allowance at the full rate then they will be given what has been assessed as the average rent for their area for that month.
If the rent being charged by the landlord is more than the Housing Allowance which has been awarded then the individual must pay the balance themselves. If the rent being charged is less than the average rent in the area and the person qualifies for full Housing Allowance, then the person may be slightly better off and may be able to keep the balance.
Any changes in a person's circumstances must always be declared.
A person who is disabled and lives in privately rented accommodation where the rent is above the average for the area must seek individual advice from the council and from a benefit adviser. There may be an argument to be had that adapted property to meet the person's needs may be more expensive or that additional rooms may be needed to meet the needs of the disability. To get the room dimensions that someone requires when they are a wheelchair user may mean that they have had to rent a bigger property to start with to accommodate the needs of the wheelchair for more floor space.