Stopping Housing Benefit

[Luzzly]

If you stop claiming housing benefit in a council house, does the council still want to know the ins and outs of how much you earn etc. Or is it then none of their business. Thanks

[kvalidir]

None of their business, just inform them you now don't feel you qualify for HB and no longer wish to claim it.

[Luzzly]

Thank you kyalidir. I'm also presuming I don't have to inform them if one of my sons moves out. I think the "bedroom tax" only applies if I am claiming housing benefit. Does anyone know this please?

[hc4361]

Yes, the bedroom tax is really a cut in housing benefit if you have too many rooms.
If you don't claim HB the council don't need to be informed

[Luzzly]

Hooray - thanks also hc4361. I can finally free myself from council interference.

[fiction-factory]

It's still the council's prperty though so they are entitled to interfere a little bit. Presumably they do ask from time to time on the numbers of pople living there as I know my grandmother was 'encouraged' to free up a family sized council home after her husband died and all 4 children had grown up and left home

[EDDIE51]

Yes, I think they can suggest you move to a smaller property if you have more bedrooms than you need.(once your children have moved out for example) but they can't force you to move. My tenancy is a 'secure' one I have had the house for over 30 years. But new tenancies have a condition that you have to 'downsize' if your children have moved out and you no longer need a large house. They MUST offer you a suitable smaller property though .

[Peter Pedant]

Just write a formal letter

Dear Sir - mrs X claim ni Y etc
I dont wish to claim Housing Ben / LHA from 1 April 2019
thanks for you attention
Yours Mrs X
to the HBD

make sure you put in the date or they will enthusiastically stop it from the day it arrives.

the other things arent really related to HBD -

they then rewrote around three months later
asking I really was off HBD or did I wish to fill in another form

[Hopkirk]

Am I missing something, but how could you get housing benefit when living in a council house?

[hc4361]

You've confused me, Hopkirk. The benefit is given to those on low incomes that live in rented property to pay to their landlords, who happen in this instance to be the council.

Why wouldn't a low income family in a council house be entitled to housing benefit?