Temporary housing costs

17 year old in temporary accommodaiton since 15th March 2018. UC applied for on 22nd march but would not backdate to 15th March. Housing costs provided. UC assessed under shared accommodation rate and paid accordingly. We challenged the rate and asked to be assessed under one bedroom rate. However, UC still saying they have applied correctly. Young person was being paid £367 per month under UC housing costs where as temporary accommodation rate was £750 per month. Young person is now receiving Housing Benefit in temporary accommodation at full rate of £750. Is UC correct in their assessment? We are not benefit specialists and finding UC tricky to navigate. Having checked CPAG welfare rights book, I unable to find on their any answers. Have checked online and can see a house of commons library briefly which suggests should be applied as shared room rate in temporary accommodation. Can anyone help in this matter?

Further, the young person did move temporary accommodation on 18th April and did inform UC but they informed in the wrong place on their uC account. We applied the correct change in July and HB awarded from this date. UC do not seem to be asking for payments to be returned as we are now aware of the change in circumstances with temporary housing costs from 14th April and who pays this

The change when moving (18th April) would have been a change in housing costs, as well as, address

Shared accommodation LHA rate sounds right, assuming the person is not a care leaver (Children’s Services wouldn’t just turn them loose at 17 would they?).

But could there be a way of getting HB paid from April (which is what should have happened)?  Is the charge for the accommodation expressed as a daily amount?  If so the normal time limits for claiming HB don’t apply

Hi

HB Anorak - 27 September 2018 10:00 AM

Shared accommodation LHA rate sounds right, assuming the person is not a care leaver (Children’s Services wouldn’t just turn them loose at 17 would they?).

But could there be a way of getting HB paid from April (which is what should have happened)?  Is the charge for the accommodation expressed as a daily amount?  If so the normal time limits for claiming HB don’t apply

Hi

Not a care leaver as only section 17. Did not take section 20. Childs choice. Parental; responsibility still lies with the parents. I am certain it is not charged weekly so unable to claim through that route. They should be entitled to full rent as placed in temporary accommodation. Its just a metter of who pays. Universal Credit have only paid the shared accommodation rate and they say this is correct. However, now applied for housing benefit and they pay at the full rate of rent, not shared accommodation rate. Quesiton is: are UC applying it correctly. If so, why is this. Does this mean that we should have applied for discrentionary housing payments alongside this housing cost claim with UC to cover the full rent as understand local authority have been given extra money to deal with temporary accommodation costs? Or have UC applied the rule unfairly and they should have paid at the full rate. Those in social housing are not subject the LHA, its just we are confused about the temporary housing costs and if applied correctly

UC have got the amount right, but they have paid for too long. Temporary accommodation is not covered by UC social sector rules, it is treated like privately rented accommodation. As the claimant is under 35 the shared accommodation LHA rate applies.

They should have stopped paying UC housing costs when she moved and she should have claimed HB. If the charges are daily it’s not too late to claim it now.