Housing benefit pending esa MR

Catlover64

Hi everyone,
Wanting some advice. If your ESA is stopped after failing your WCA, and a person wants to go on to appeal, can you get paid housing benefit during the mandatory reconsideration period if you have no income and only savings under £6000? I rang housing benefit to enquire and they said NO as they can't work out your benefit on nil income! Is this right? I have read online otherwise!

poppy123456

Hi,

You have been incorrectly advised i'm afraid. Yes, you can definitely claim housing benefit on nil income. All you need to do is ask for the nil income form and fill it in and return it.

Catlover64

Ah thanks Poppy, how come they do not know what they are doing there? I did ask for a nil income form but they said you have to go online and fill in a change of circumstances form as they don't have any nil income forms? Also, do you know roughly what the waiting time is for MR recently by any chance? Thanks .

poppy123456

You're welcome. Sometimes people just don't know what they are talking about and often give incorrect advice. Some councils may do everything online now so it could well be a change of circumstances because of the nil income. Just do not claim Universal credit by mistake because if you do this then you won't be able to go back onto ESA anytime in the future.

There's no timescales for any decision, it depends on backlog in your area but most MR decisions remain the same.

Catlover64

Could anybody please give me the appropriate regs to throw at my council regarding housing benefit whilst awaiting mandatory consideration/appeal? Thanks in advance.

poppy123456

As far as i know there's no regulations for this, at least i couldn't find anything related to it but it's definitely possible to claim HB through nil income because i know of many people on here that have done exactly that.

Catlover64

Thanks Poppy, I have spoken to a woman earlier today at Hb "advice" who said she spoke to two "assessors w"both said that I have to wait until the outcome of my appeal! I don't believe them because you told me exactly what I have seen online! I am trying to get hold of CAB still. Thanks for your support.