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Housing benefit Q - moving areas
frisky python
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Quick question - if you live in one area but need to move 50 miles to be back home with family, would you still get Housing Benefit? Situation is single mum, two kids, who needs family support, hence the move.
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Are you in social housing at the moment, if so you may be able to 'houseswap' with someone else who wants to move to your area.
If not its possible then the council in the area you want to move may have list of landlords or agencies that accept HB or you can check yourself if any estate agents in your new area have lists of LL who do.
Although the amount you get may vary from area to area, if you meet the criteria for HB then you should get some, local LLs will know what is the 'norm' for HB with your new council.
Can you stay with family or friends whilst you look for accommodation?
Thanks Madamfluff. It's for a family member, and there isn't any room for them to stay with friends/family, maybe for a night or two at a push because otherwise we're talking about 3 people (mum and two kids) in one room with a single bed, plus all their possessions.
It's not social housing she's in, it's a private rent at a very reasonable rate, and if she was to move back to her home town the rent increase would be pretty significant too. I'm trying to get a handle on how it all works, to see if it's even feasible, the logistics seem a nightmare to be honest.
Would she definitely be under a new LA? I know our boundary is over 50miles one way, but it goes into a different LA (who incidentally pay less) less than a mile in the other direction.
Could she contact the local LA on Tuesday who may even be able to suggest suitable landlords for her?
I wish her luck.
Thanks Luckyyem. It will be a different LA from where she is now.
I've worked out she'd get approx £680 in HB maximum, and the cheapest 3 bed house is £850.
The new authority will be able to give her a letter that says something along the lines of:
'...based on X's current circumstances of. ... she would be entitled to £X pcm if she claimed in X area'
That's the best she can get as theres no entitlement until residency.
If the authority refuse to provide this letter make a complaint.
She can also possibly get help via a discretionary payments from the authority she currently lives in for a deposit, advanced rent and moving costs - however again no payment until she moves in but the council should liaise with the landlord.