Heya everyone! Hope ur all doing great!!

Im hoping someone on here can explain stuff to me because im just so so confused

Basicaly at the moment im living with my wonderful dad but after the baby is born I intend to move out. Not because I dont like living with my dad but purely because I do want my own space for me n baby. Hope that doesnt sound selfish!!

I know im entitled to housing benefit which I intend to claim. But how does it work, in the sense that if I find a property I wish to rent how am I meant to affors the rent while my claim for housing benefit goes through? Im worried that id take a place on n my claim takes months to sort out n I wouldnt be able to manage the first few months rent on income support which i'll be gettin as I have no partner. Or is it possible to claim before I find a property so I can move in safe in the knowledge that my rent will be covered straight away?

Sorry if this is hard to follow. Found it hard to explain lol.

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I have absolutely no idea - dont they have a help line you could ring and ask??

x

Not that im aware of but thats probably because the councils website is awful lol!!

X

Hi, ok not sure if this will be helpful or even more confusing...a little link for ya. Another idea would be to go to the Citizen's Advice Bureau, or try asking your council like Mervs Mum said I'm pretty sure that you need to be living in the property before you can claim housing benefit for it, but not 100% on that. The good news is that while you're waiting for your claim to be processed they will backdate the payments to the date you put your application in. I got behind with my rent last year while I first started claiming HB, but the Housing Association were understanding about that and even helped me fill the forms in

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTax...me/DG_10018926

Honey, I am going to move this into the Life, Relationships and Finances section as I think you may have even more responses there. Some have applied and gone through this already.

I'm pretty sure u need to actually be renting a property to claim housing benifit. All i can think of that may help u is when u find a place u want to rent explain to the agent/landlord your situation. I'm sure that if u can provide written proof that u will deffo be receiving benifit they will allow you to pay your 1st month's rent the following month. But the council will backdate your payments.

OR maybe u get get a loan from your dad just til your money's come? Perhaps a good idea to pop into your local council and speak to someone about your circumstances, they may even help you with housing. Hope it all gets sorted for u hun! x

Housing benefit used to have what is known as a predetermination of benefits. However, there have been some changes to housing benefit. You can call your local housing benefit office and ask if they still do this.

Thank you all heaps

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You housing benefit will get backdated to the day that you moved in, but most of the time you're expected to sort it out yourself til that comes through - depending on the landlord.

You won't definately get all your rent paid for you either - it depends how much the rent is and whether where you live is what your council deem is what you need and a reasonable rent price. If you get income support you'll get the full allowance - ie, maximum benefit (but that doesn't mean all the rent!), if you get other benefits, you may not get maximum benefit.

Because you are classed as a single mother with 1 child, they'd usually give you allowance for 2 bedrooms, 1 reception room, 1 bathroom and 1 kitchen (depending on where you live, it's how it works in Newcastle anyway). So if you find somewhere with 3 bedrooms and 2 reception rooms, you'd only get the benefit for 2 bedrooms and 1 reception room at the rate that they believe is a reasonable rent, and be expected to fund the difference yourself. Bear in mind that different councils have different rules, - just to make things that little bit harder!

Alot of councils like you to get a pre-tennancy agreement sorted too, - this lets you know how much rent they'll pay fr you.

Dont ya just love the council!!