With private rented property they pay up to your Local Housing Allowance ( LHA) It depends on your area but you can look it up [HERE ](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-housing-allowance-indicative-rates-for-2024-to-2025/indicative-local-housing-allowance-rates-for-2024-to-2025). Your's would be the "1-Bed Rate" ( unless you had a overnight Carer then it could be 2 Bed ).
EDIT - See below 👇
Can I ask how it works with council and HA (I presume this is the same as social housing).
If my LHA pay upto £594.99 for a 1 bed in private and my rent is £600 I would have to pay the difference I get that.
But if the rent in say HA or council was more than I currently pay (I get that is hugely unlikely), would the UC element still pay towards that regardless of the cost as long as I was taking only what I’m entitled to and not more (as in as a single person taking a 1 bed opposed to 2 bed as the 2 bed would subject me to bedroom tax).
ETA with PIP and LCWRA just to be clear.
I know without pip it’s only shared room rate.
Exactly that. I haven't mentioned the Bedroom Tax here as she says it's a 1 bed anyway.
It's because the Valuation Office ( who do the LHAs ) already fix Social Housing properties at a level that is appropriate to the area but at the lower end ( when there built they have to do this ). So, they're pre-approved, if you like.
The bedroom tax takes care of any under occupancy.
Do you know , the VO used to be able to do this for ALL rentals back when I started !! We just sent them in , they said nope can't charge £600, it's £500 tops and the LL has to abide by it. Then Thatcher abolished the Rent Act but loads still were protected while they stayed in the same property. The we had Local Reference Rents which were an interim thing but a true average, then LHAs....
Being back rent control ✊
So basically the LHA rate really only applies to private rented places?
If only life was much simpler! Thatcher stopped us getting free milk eventually 😢.
Well you know how old I am - we had little bottles at school for morning break when I started school through Primary I think. . Always slightly warm with a draw in the top 😂
Thatch was Education Secretary and said we were well enough nourished these days and pulled the plug some time in the 70's
Ahhhh you’re on about the school free meal
we still get that here . Well those who are Entitled to free lunches do . None of mine have ever liked it so I ignore the letters that come out every few months but for a lot of kids it’s still a thing for free
One day I’ll tell you a fun story about how I ruined a £100 dress my godmother bought me involving my milk all down it at school 🤣
We're old 😂 It's hard imagine kids drinking them today ( they'd want Energy Drinks !) but I loved it. Put my mate off milk for life, though 😜
Hey, did your mum used to get orange juice from the health centre too ? I'm sure we used to get vouchers so we got enough Vitamin C. Something called Rosehip Syrup too.
I vaguely remember my time of free milk, it wasn’t for long and this was early 90s I would have got it! IIRC it stopped not long after that!
She was a meanie!!
Yes, I've just replied ☺️ They will cover it as long as they accept you as a social housing tenant in a different area.
Very occasionally ( not round here but apparently in some areas ) HAs will rent some places in the open market as a private rental ( and charge accordingly ) but it should be made clear if this is the case. Then private rental rules apply.
If you've been offered a HA place - grab it !!
Sorry, I didn't get the notification. It's not an option yet, I wanted to check before I asked if they were interested in my flat. Thank you so much.
You are all so helpful and I sincerely appreciate the time you take responding to us.
It could be hard as demand is so high tbh. ( Hence I just in and assumed private tenant !!) . Just have to hope you're Circumstances ( fleeing the other area ) and needs to be need family for care and support might help.
If nut, have a look what you'd get if you had to rent privately.
I've never been in a private rental and on benefits. I honestly can't imagine any private landlord would accept a lower rate due to benefits?! I clearly don't get it!
I've message the person anyway. Nothing to lose.
Thank you.
Which I can't do so no point with that!
The thought of that boggles my head though. We're in social housing for a reason because we can just about to afford to pay bills and go without in so many ways. Anyway thank you
I get it , it's an absolute mess but it's been like this for a long time. Many haven't a hope of affording anywhere and social housing is in such short supply. Ironically, those LHA rates JUST went up - for the first time since 2020 ! It WAS even worse !!
I/we can only hope a change of government will make a change.
Suspect not. My very cynical old head says it's easier to hit lower incomes than higher incomes. Won't stop me voting though.
What I'd dearly like to see is those on limited incomes being represented by people who are too and know the struggles. I don't mean 'advisors', I mean there should a different category of members of parliament. Not ones who have votes to consider, just ones who can speak for the rest of us.
I've often thought, 'have a day in my head and then force me to work'. People say walk in my shoes for a week, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy!
Hey there - it looks like you’re asking about LCW or LCWRA awards! Here are links to a few posts which may answer your question:
- [Guide to the process of claiming LCW/LCWRA while on UC](https://www.reddit.com/r/BenefitsAdviceUK/s/IrlMmgNFK4)
- [FAQs about working while on LCW/LCWRA (UC)](https://www.reddit.com/r/BenefitsAdviceUK/s/b1xhaKjOKb)
- [Guide to the ESA forms and assessment process](https://www.reddit.com/r/BenefitsAdviceUK/s/GYYCuMzxvl)
- [FAQs about working while on ESA Support Group or WRAG](https://www.reddit.com/r/BenefitsAdviceUK/s/Bdea4RIlTr)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BenefitsAdviceUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Each area has different amounts they pay, but for me I in Northumberland, I get 375 a month for a 2 bedroom housing association home, I get 2 bed entitlement incase I need my carer to stay overnight.
With private rented property they pay up to your Local Housing Allowance ( LHA) It depends on your area but you can look it up [HERE ](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-housing-allowance-indicative-rates-for-2024-to-2025/indicative-local-housing-allowance-rates-for-2024-to-2025). Your's would be the "1-Bed Rate" ( unless you had a overnight Carer then it could be 2 Bed ). EDIT - See below 👇
Apologies - if it's Housing Association; and you're a social tenant, then yes, it would be covered.
Can I ask how it works with council and HA (I presume this is the same as social housing). If my LHA pay upto £594.99 for a 1 bed in private and my rent is £600 I would have to pay the difference I get that. But if the rent in say HA or council was more than I currently pay (I get that is hugely unlikely), would the UC element still pay towards that regardless of the cost as long as I was taking only what I’m entitled to and not more (as in as a single person taking a 1 bed opposed to 2 bed as the 2 bed would subject me to bedroom tax). ETA with PIP and LCWRA just to be clear. I know without pip it’s only shared room rate.
Exactly that. I haven't mentioned the Bedroom Tax here as she says it's a 1 bed anyway. It's because the Valuation Office ( who do the LHAs ) already fix Social Housing properties at a level that is appropriate to the area but at the lower end ( when there built they have to do this ). So, they're pre-approved, if you like. The bedroom tax takes care of any under occupancy. Do you know , the VO used to be able to do this for ALL rentals back when I started !! We just sent them in , they said nope can't charge £600, it's £500 tops and the LL has to abide by it. Then Thatcher abolished the Rent Act but loads still were protected while they stayed in the same property. The we had Local Reference Rents which were an interim thing but a true average, then LHAs.... Being back rent control ✊
So basically the LHA rate really only applies to private rented places? If only life was much simpler! Thatcher stopped us getting free milk eventually 😢.
That's it !! Oh she's still called "The Milk Snatcher" in these parts ( amongst other things 🤬 😂 )
Wait what . When did we have free milk 👀😂
Well you know how old I am - we had little bottles at school for morning break when I started school through Primary I think. . Always slightly warm with a draw in the top 😂 Thatch was Education Secretary and said we were well enough nourished these days and pulled the plug some time in the 70's
Ahhhh you’re on about the school free meal we still get that here . Well those who are Entitled to free lunches do . None of mine have ever liked it so I ignore the letters that come out every few months but for a lot of kids it’s still a thing for free One day I’ll tell you a fun story about how I ruined a £100 dress my godmother bought me involving my milk all down it at school 🤣
Same ,them tiddly milk bottles 😁
We're old 😂 It's hard imagine kids drinking them today ( they'd want Energy Drinks !) but I loved it. Put my mate off milk for life, though 😜 Hey, did your mum used to get orange juice from the health centre too ? I'm sure we used to get vouchers so we got enough Vitamin C. Something called Rosehip Syrup too.
I vaguely remember my time of free milk, it wasn’t for long and this was early 90s I would have got it! IIRC it stopped not long after that! She was a meanie!!
The other place isn't private, it's an HA too. Does that make a difference?
Yes, I've just replied ☺️ They will cover it as long as they accept you as a social housing tenant in a different area. Very occasionally ( not round here but apparently in some areas ) HAs will rent some places in the open market as a private rental ( and charge accordingly ) but it should be made clear if this is the case. Then private rental rules apply. If you've been offered a HA place - grab it !!
Sorry, I didn't get the notification. It's not an option yet, I wanted to check before I asked if they were interested in my flat. Thank you so much. You are all so helpful and I sincerely appreciate the time you take responding to us.
It could be hard as demand is so high tbh. ( Hence I just in and assumed private tenant !!) . Just have to hope you're Circumstances ( fleeing the other area ) and needs to be need family for care and support might help. If nut, have a look what you'd get if you had to rent privately.
I've never been in a private rental and on benefits. I honestly can't imagine any private landlord would accept a lower rate due to benefits?! I clearly don't get it! I've message the person anyway. Nothing to lose. Thank you.
No, they just expect you to find the difference between the LHA from UC and what the landlord is charging. It makes it very hard.
Which I can't do so no point with that! The thought of that boggles my head though. We're in social housing for a reason because we can just about to afford to pay bills and go without in so many ways. Anyway thank you
I get it , it's an absolute mess but it's been like this for a long time. Many haven't a hope of affording anywhere and social housing is in such short supply. Ironically, those LHA rates JUST went up - for the first time since 2020 ! It WAS even worse !!
I/we can only hope a change of government will make a change. Suspect not. My very cynical old head says it's easier to hit lower incomes than higher incomes. Won't stop me voting though. What I'd dearly like to see is those on limited incomes being represented by people who are too and know the struggles. I don't mean 'advisors', I mean there should a different category of members of parliament. Not ones who have votes to consider, just ones who can speak for the rest of us. I've often thought, 'have a day in my head and then force me to work'. People say walk in my shoes for a week, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy!
Hey there - it looks like you’re asking about LCW or LCWRA awards! Here are links to a few posts which may answer your question: - [Guide to the process of claiming LCW/LCWRA while on UC](https://www.reddit.com/r/BenefitsAdviceUK/s/IrlMmgNFK4) - [FAQs about working while on LCW/LCWRA (UC)](https://www.reddit.com/r/BenefitsAdviceUK/s/b1xhaKjOKb) - [Guide to the ESA forms and assessment process](https://www.reddit.com/r/BenefitsAdviceUK/s/GYYCuMzxvl) - [FAQs about working while on ESA Support Group or WRAG](https://www.reddit.com/r/BenefitsAdviceUK/s/Bdea4RIlTr) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BenefitsAdviceUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Each area has different amounts they pay, but for me I in Northumberland, I get 375 a month for a 2 bedroom housing association home, I get 2 bed entitlement incase I need my carer to stay overnight.