Am I to become homeless?

I have just read the DWP new rules on Housing Benefit and am in tears already. I live on IS due to illness and get HB at a much lower rate than my actual rent. I have to top up my rental payments from my benefit as it is and it looks as though HB is to be slashed even further.

I live alone in a 2 bedroomed house and if my HB is slashed any more I will be unable to pay my rent.

I'm sure everyone knows how hard it is to find a decent place to live and my home is my only sanctuary. I have battled mental illness for decades (judging by school reports I believe I was born like this) and it has finally got the better of me.

I don't drink, smoke, go out anywhere, but to the shops and if my home is taken I will find it hard to carry on living. My home is close to my family members who provide me with support and I cannot bear the thought of having to move away.

I'm sorry to be so forthright and I hope I have not upset anyone. Can anyone ease my worries?

I'm not sure what you mean by the new rules, could you clarify which ones you're talking about?

From what I read it's going to be better for disabled claimants as there will be a rule that says you're allowed a second bedroom for a carer.

The cap on payments of £400 per week (a lot of people seem to be misreading it as month) will only affect rents in very expensive areas, like central London. For most other places I don't think the LHA levels will really be affected.

Oh thankyou Indieames! What a relief, I was indeed mistaking the weekly amount for monthly. My nerves have been on edge for months, waiting for the brown envelope.

I don't claim DLA so will I still be allowed to claim for a second bedroom do you know? That room is for the only joy in my life - grandchildren.

I know that means nothing to the powers that be of course.

Thankyou again, I've stopped crying now.

Hi tazman, If you can try and get an appointment with the CAB or a welfare rights worker to seek further advice you will not lose anything by asking. Best Wishes

Thanks also to you Jeff1. This site is a lifeline and a great comfort.

The cap of £400 pounds a week is for big families isnt it?
A single person in a single place encounters a Local Authority HB cap called the single persons HB rate allowance
which would probably be around £130-140 a week in London just now.
This is all they will pay in rent.
Any extra has to be found by The Tenant.
At least think this is how it works?
A large family would need a large place and so sums are correspondingly higher..