A lady went into hospital temporarily and during her stay it was decided that she would not be able to return home as she would need to move into supported accomodation. Her support worker then gave notice on her tenancy. A few weeks later she moved into her mother's, the move to supported accomodation having been delayed by lack of available places. A few weeks later she moved into supported accomodation.

The difficulty has arisen over the 4 weeks she was in hospital but had given notice to her landlord. For this period she has been refused HB on the grounds that she had no intention to return so cannot benefit from reg 8B.

Anyone got any ideas what she can do?

Appeal. The regs have recently been changed to allow payment in this situation. See recent circulars (sorry not to give the SI number but its 6.30 on Friday and I want to go home.)

Not checked, but circular A29 rings a bell for the change - but it only took effect from sometime in Oct 2004.

Regards

HB Circular A29 reltaes to verification - does anyone have a definative reference....?

is it this one -

SI.No.2303/2004 @ http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/cgi-bin/forwardsql/search.cgi?template2=user_details2.htm&output_number=1&news.ID=917111914120

ps - related guidance HB/CTB General Information Bulletin G9/2004 @ http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/cgi-bin/forwardsql/search.cgi?template2=user_details2.htm&output_number=1&news.ID=122492919454

Looks like they are the regs, the new para 5A allowing up to 4 weeks but the circular is A29, it just covers a lot of other stuff. Look at the bit on "period of notice". Thanks for the info and the reference everyone it is useful to know. Unfortunately for my client, October comes too late for her.