Housing Systems: Combating poverty and sustaining tenancies.
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Payments


KEY FACTS: 

  • For Council / ALMO tenants the HB will be paid by way of a credit directly onto their rent account - referred to as a rent rebate.
  • For claimants living in a Housing Association property, the HB will normally be paid by a BACs transfer into the claimant's bank account, unless the claimant or their landlord has requested that their HB be paid to the landlord.
  • For claimants living in a private tenancy, their HB (Local Housing Allowance) is by default paid to them, by a BACs transfer into the claimant's bank account - although it can be paid to the landlord in certain circumstances.
  • The HB Regulations state that a decision on a new claim should be made within 14 days, or as soon as reasonably practicable, of receiving the claim and all the information and evidence it reasonably requires Regulation 93 of the working age HB Regs 2006 / Regulation 74 of the State Pension age HB Regs 2006 - meaning a payment should be made shortly after.
  • A payment cannot usually be made until the claim has been fully assessed. However, where there are delays - depending on the reason for the delay - the HB Office might be able to make a payment on account.
  • Special rules apply to claimants awaiting the outcome of a Tax Credits change.


Click on the links below for more information:

 
 

How Quickly

How quickly should a HB Office process a claim.

Delays

What causes delays, how to prevent them and what can you do about them.

Payments on Account

What are they, when are they useful and how to request one.

Waiting for Tax Credits?

HB can and should still be paid as special rules apply.

To Landlord

When can HB be paid to the landlord. What if the HB Office pay the claimant in error?

To Claimant

When HB is being paid to the claimant how often will they get paid?

Not as much as expected?

Why would a payment be less than expected?