Struggling to meet shortfall in my rent: can I get any help?
Q. I am currently receiving Income Based ESA and I am in The Work Related Activity Group, as I am aged 27 and rent privately my Housing Benefit is capped at the shared accommodation rate.
I am struggling with the shortfall in the rent and wondering if thereisanyadditionalhelpIcould get to meet the shortfall or avoid the shared accommodation rate?
A. Generally speaking people under 35 years renting privately, aresingleandwithoutdependent children then your Housing Benefit will be calculated under the appropriateLocalHousingAllowance for shared accommodation.
Although you receive legacy benefits, the rules and advice given here are equally applicable for Universal Credit claimants in a similar situation (with some caveats).
There a number of options available to you in this situation. Firstly I would advise you make a claimtoyourlocalcouncilforDiscretionary Housing Payments to cover the shortfall.
Asthenamesuggestsalthough you can legally apply for the help the council may not make an award, this is at their discretion and your case will be decided on your particular merits. You can submit supporting information, for example health problems, financial circumstances, etc. that you feel is relevant.
Successful awards are normally paid for a three month period,youcanre-applyafterbutthe council normally will expect you to try and take steps to maximise your income, for example other benefits you can claim, debt supportifyouhaveothernon-priority creditors.
Ifyourhealthconditionsmean you have any additional care/daily living needs then you should also consider claiming PIP. If your award is successful then your overall benefit income will increase as PIP is ignored as income for most benefits and you could usetheadditionalmoneytocover the rental shortfall.
More importantly if you do get PIP for daily living, as you live aloneyouwouldqualifyfortheSevere Disability Premium then the council will use the one bedroom rateofLHAandnotthesharedrate so more Housing Benefit will be paid towards your rent.
ForUniversalCreditclaimants inasimilarsituationwewouldexpectsimilarrulestobeputinplace once Universal Credit introduces theequivalentofSevereDisability Premium.
Discretionary Housing Payments would also be available for Universal Credit claimants.