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HB on two homes
My clients are both over pension age and have moved to a new borough. They received housing benefit at their old address up until the date they moved and received housing benefit from the date they moved in at the new address.
They delayed the move by 10 days and now have arrears of rent for the first 10 days of their new tenancy.
Is there any discretion on applying for benefit on 2 homes, as they don’t meet the usual criteria, there were no disabled adaptations etc.
Although they had 4 weeks to move, they couldn’t cope with moving on the date the new tenancy started. One of the couple is disabled and is cared for by the other member in the couple. The one who is the carer, had to do all the packing. It took 6 weeks to complete the packing. There were also other reasons for the delay.
Secondly, if they can apply for benefit on two homes, is it the new benefit office that should consider paying the
10 days of arrears or is it the old benefit office? (The new benefit office say iits the old benefit office)
Could they instead apply for a discretionary housing payment or do they have to be living in the property - not just liable for the rent?