Hi
I have a client (18years) whom has left care and is in supported housing. The rent for this accomodation is £115 he works full time and it was agreed as an incentive to let him pay £70 for rent with social services topping the rest up.(keeping it in line with other supported housing in area and ensuring he carries on working full time) Housing benefit has also been applyed for and they are paying around £9 a week towards rent however it has subsequently turned out that housing benefit are unaware that social services are topping up the rent. Do they need to be informed? does anyone know if there is anyway around this under leaving care act as getting housing benefit means he will be entitled to council tax benefit. Any advice regarding this will be greatly appreciated

Why are Housing Benefits only paying £9 a week?

have a look at CH3579/2003 where the Commissioner held that housing benefit must be assessmed by reference to the contractual rent and that social services payments were not relevant to the calculation.

Social services payments undder S24 of the Children Act are disregarded as income and so it looks like HB should be paying HB for the full rent

And pay it at the full rate, not the rate for under 25's