Moving and claiming housing benefit, or would I need to claim universal credit?
can someone explain to me if I will be able to claim housing benefit and council tax support from my local authority or if I need to claim universal credit housing element so I’m currently on the highest rate of ESA. I think it’s contribution I also get the highest rate of and disability premium. I’m currently living at my mom‘s past few mobility has deteriorated in December last year. I had a medical assessment done at home and I was told for me anymore and I need to move to a ground floor or level access property with level access shower I’ve had falls in the house. I also fell last year so clearly the house is not suitable for me anymore so on medical grounds I need to move. I’ve completed application local housing and they put me into band I’m currently looking for a one bedroom bungalow or one bedroom ground floor flat I’m a single male I’ll just be moving on my just need to know what I can get paying the rent and council tax on the property so again would I be able to claim housing benefit and council tax support or would I need to try and universal credit housing element? Hopefully somebody can give me the
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Hi,
New claims for Housing Benefit can only be made for sheltered accommodation or people above pension age.
From the information provided I believe you would need to make a claim for Housing Element through Universal Credit.
Council tax reduction is all done through your local council, that is separate from Universal Credit and each area has it's own rules for that.
Are you sure your ESA is all contributions based? For most people it is at least partly income based. If so, that will be migrated to UC within this year anyway, and the contributions based part will get changed to New Style ESA.
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I’m not sure if it’s all contributions based I think it’s probably both I also get the highest rate of PIP and disability premium if I get switched over to universal credit my money go I lose the disability premium. I read online last of my circumstances the fact that I’m having to move on medical grounds so the house I’m living in it’s just not suitable for me anymore and I need to move to a ground floor or level access authority might still award me housing I’m gonna check with
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sorry words missing from my comment. I’m speaking into my iPad. The comment looks correct and then when I some of the words the end of that comment it should say might still be awarded housing benefit and I’m gonna check with them tomorrow.
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A new claim for Housing Benefit is only possible in the circumstances advised by OverlyAnxious.
Neither of those fit your situation so you will not be eligible for HB when you move.
You would need to claim Universal Credit for help with rent via Housing Element.
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If I get the housing element will I then have to leave ESA and go to universal credit if so will my money go down I currently get just over £480 a Fortnight that includes disability premium
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Your Income Related ESA would be replaced by UC, your Contributions Based ESA would transfer to New Style ESA and be paid separately from UC.
NS ESA would be paid at a rate of £276.40 a fortnight, this will be deducted in full from your UC (£598.86 a month).
I know it looks wrong but ESA is a weekly benefit and there are 4.3 weeks in a month not 4.
Your UC would be made up of Housing Element, standard allowance, LCWRA (the UC equivalent of ESA Support Group which you would have automatic entitlement to). Plus any other elements you would be entitled to.
Try a benefits calculator to see UC entitlement.
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I'm not sure they'll get Transitional Protection if they move voluntarily without a migration notice?
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Already corrected thank you, I deleted one paragraph from my original reply but missed a second 🙂
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@KIMMY87 I do apologise for asking but this is all very confusing for me, I’m not thinking clearly right now I was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat a few weeks ago and just waiting on some tests so not getting much sleep. So over 28 days I get a total of £962.20 ESA with disability premium I take it universal credit is paid monthly so how much UC and contribution based ESA will I get over a month again I apologise for not quite understanding
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EDITED, wrong information again I think I'm too tired to be useful today 🤦🏼♀️
Assuming you have no dependant children who live with you:
UC LCWRA + Standard Allowance currently pays £809.64.
A deduction of £598.86 for the New Style ESA would be made.
So per month you'd get £598.86 New Style ESA plus £210.78 UC.
Plus Housing Element for your rent.
These are the figures if you move out and need to claim Housing Element (known as natural migration).
If at the time you move out you've claimed UC through managed migration (letters are going out until December), Transitional Protection will be added to your claim.
Unfortunately this TP would then end when you claim Housing Element.
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so that’s about £200 a month less than what I’m getting now would I get the transitional protection payment as I would be losing the disability premium payment
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sorry again would I only receive that protection payment if I have to migrate over but if I move over say in a few weeks because I get offered a place I wouldn’t get that payment
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even though it’s no fault of mine that I’m having to move because of disability
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Yes Transitional Protection would apply if you claim UC via managed migration, but would end when you later claim Housing Element, as your rent would likely exceed the amount of the TP reducing the value of it to zero.
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so no matter what happens I will be about £200 a month worse of, how much would I get towards my rent the housing association charge on average about £130 a week that includes there reach and respond service charges
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UC doesn't cover all service charges, so you might not get 100% of rent paid, but it should still be a high percentage.
Shelter has some information, you could also ask your HA for advice as they have landlord guidance from UC and probably know from other tenants what their UC Housing Element does and doesn't pay for.
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the service charges are minimal about £8 a week just as long as most of the rent is covered . I’m just trying to figure out how much money ill have when I do move out as ill be on my own I’ll have all the bills to pay myself all this is a bit daunting having lived with my parents all my life and suffering with mental and physical health issues losing my dad last year and my mum having terminal its a difficult time
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I’ve just phoned my local council about housing benefits and explained I’ve had a medical assistant done for my housing needs and that I’m having to move on medical grounds and I’m on ESA they said I would be able to claim housing benefits in that case and have sent me a link CONFUSED
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They've informed you incorrectly. Perhaps they thought as you were moving on medical grounds you were moving to supported accommodation (which does qualify for HB)
Housing benefit for those of working age can only be claimed in very limited circumstances. See link.
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