Housing Benefit - Disability Premium if you get PIP

Lottie1732

Hi Everyone,

I've found this https://www.gov.uk/disability-premiums/what-youll-get
- which suggests to me that now I get PIP (yay!) then I'll automatically qualify for a disability premium on my housing benefit.  I've read through the pages about this umpteen times and I'm still not convinced. 

I receive housing benefit (that doesn't cover my private tenant rent) and PIP (Daily living standard) plus UC.   

Am I in cloud cuckoo land here?  If it's what I think it is, then it means I can stay in my home because I would be able to pay the rent.

Thanks very much. 
Lottie 

poppy123456

As you're claiming UC then you won't be claiming housing benefit unless you're either living in supported or temporary housing. Your rent will be paid in with your UC known as housing element. They are completely different benefits. There's no disability premiums payable when claiming UC.

If you're under 35 and live alone then you'll be entitled to the 1 bedroom rate of Local housing allowance instead of the shared rate because you're PIP includes the daily living part. If you're already claiming the 1 bedroom rate then there will be no changes to your housing element.

You can check the rates for your area here. https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/ it gives the weekly amount which you'll need to convert to monthly. Times the amount by 52 and divide by 12.

Lottie1732

Thank you Poppy. I see it now. I'm not getting housing benefit but housing element of UC. I didn't understand the distinction between the two.  I thought it was too good to be true. 

Danlangridge88

Does this mean that if you get housing benefit (Rather than UC housing element when in emergency accommodation, and get PIP does that make u elegibly for the disability premium? Or does the whole thing just not exist any more