Is there any financial help available regarding paying buildings insurance?

ESABenefitsUK123

My yearly mandatory buildings insurance keeps going up.  (This isn't contents insurance.)  I am in a flat.  The building is insured as a whole, and each flat owner pays a certain percentage of this cost.  My cost is 20% because I am in the smallest flat in the building.  However, it's gone up to £250 a year, just for my flat.  I am the sole owner/occupier, with no mortgage left to pay.  I am on ESA & PIP, with no other income.  I have savings less than £6000.  Is there any financial help available?  Thanks a lot for any comments.

poppy123456

I’m not aware of there being any help for this unfortunately. Are you also claiming council tax reduction? 

Which ESA are you claiming? Contributions based, new style or Income Related? 

ESABenefitsUK123

Thanks.

I am claiming council tax reduction.

Regarding ESA, I think I am on income-based, as my savings are less than 6K, although the odd thing is that when I spoke to an ESA adviser on the DWP ESA telephone helpline, I was told on two separate occasions that my ESA is contrib.  I don't know what to make of this.  Is there a way of finding out?

BTW, and apologies if this is starting a new topic inside an existing thread, but do you think it's likely that I will be migrated over to UC in approximately 2028/2029.

Thanks.

poppy123456

I noticed that SDP was mentioned in a previous thread of yours. If your ESA includes any of the disability premiums then at least part of it is Income Related. £129.50/week is contributions based. Any more than this then it will be Income Related.

Those claiming ESA won’t be migrated to UC until at least 2028, unless they are claiming Tax Credits. Whether that date can be achieved is anyone’s guess. 

Camellia

I appreciate this is a couple of years late for the OP. But for others with this issue, I know you can get help with your house service charge HSC (itemised out to include only expenses deemed essential for basic upkeep and repair of the building itself and the communal areas) through the DWP (as opposed to your local council). Was advised of this by a benefits advisor who was able to find references to the relevant laws in the CPAG Child Poverty Action Group benefits handbook or guide or whatever it is called.

I spoke with someone at the DWP on their helpline, who confirmed it and they gave me the details of where to send my letter requesting it to (no forms for it to my knowledge) and some of the documentary evidence you need such as proof of ownership, invoices, something with a breakdown of what the HSC is for.

I am applying for help with buildings insurance myself as it is a contractural obligation for me as an owner occupier under the terms of my lease. Failure to pay it can have legal and housing ramifications as the property can be repossessed for failure to pay.

Whether or not the DWP are prepared to help with this component of my HSC remains to be seen. This help is for owner occupiers and is separate to HB or mortgage interest help.

Chris75_

Camellia

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1055760#Comment_1055760

I should have mentioned I am an owner occupier of a flat in a building with other flats. So what I have said is likely not relevant to an owner occupier who has a house of their own.