Housing Benefit Arrears

After a Housing Benefit Claim has been outstanding for more than two months the tenant should be required to pay 10% of the rent per week, while continuing to give monthly proof of chasing the claim and proof of supplying the relevant documents to the Housing Benefit Office (a standard form for this is available from Kath Tudor in the Co-op Office). This money will be refunded if the HB claim is accepted.

a Tenants whose HB are more than three months in arrears are required to go to the Law Centre and request that they take up their case.

b They must provide the co-op of proof of this action.

c Tenants must also go to their local councillor’s surgery to lodge the complaint.

d The co-op should provide contact lists for the tenant concerned.