UC << >>HB Who Do I Claim Emergency Housing From!

Please Help as I am being passed backwards and forwards between Housing Benefit and Universal Credit!

Am I able to claim emergency housing for my stay in an Air B&B when I was unexpectedly given a month's notice to move from my previous property?
Should I get the reimbursement from Universal Credit or Housing Benefit?

Surely the fact it was Air B&B should not matter - it was reasonable at only £35 a night!

Can you offer me any advice on this issue and how I might resolve it?

Thank you.

Communications:
First I tried to claim the cost of temporary accommodation from Universal credit as they gave be money towards my rent in my last property but they said:

”Hi - you will need to claim this from housing benefit as UC will not be able to cover this cost. Regards”

and then

“ Hi - As it's holiday lettings Universal Credit would not cover the cost. We only pay for private housing cost and social rented housing cost where a claimant is required to a have a valid tenancy agreement. Regards”

So I contacted housing team at Waltham Forest council and eventually got this reply:

“Dear Miss Gladwin

Thank you for your email 28.9.21. As you are not living in temporary accommodation provided by the council, you will need to claim your costs for the airbnb property through your Universal Credit.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Terrey
HB Assessment Officer”


I could have predicted this would happen and would be passed pillar to post.

I sent a screen grab of what universal credit said on my online journal to Waltham Forest and said:

“They are adamant that they cannot reimburse the cost.

At this point I'll just reiterate I was using Air B& B as emergency accommodation as I had nowhere permanent to live as I was given notice by my previous landlord and had only a months notice and had been unable to find anywhere !!

Please can you tell me where I can claim these costs back as I borrowed the money and need to pay it back.

I can not keep bouncing back between you and universal credit. If you are not able to resolve this I will be contacting my local MP so they can take the issue higher and help to resolve this issue.

Yours Sincerely
Kim Gladwin”


I then replied to universal credit on my online journal saying:

“Regarding the repayment of emergency accommodation costs :
I'd just like reiterate I was using Air B&B as emergency accommodation as I had nowhere permanent to live. I was only given a months notice by my previous landlord and had been unable to find anywhere !!

I intend to take this issue to my MP in Waltham Forest if it is not resolved ASAP.

Regards”

Overall this is infuriating.

Hi, you could also try the Shelter helpline.
Hope you can get this sorted. If you need debt help because you borrowed for a roof over your head [and I used to live in Waltham Forest so know how expensive it is!] I personally recommend CAP.
Best wishes with getting this sorted,
Denby

Hi David. You need to go to your local council’s ‘Housing Advice’ service. You will be interviewed and given a letter regarding your homelessness. You will be given a list of temporary housing providers. HB will be paid for them. You need to go through ‘official channels’. You will not get HB unless there is some form of written agreement. If you are classed as having additional needs due to the nature of a chronic illness/ disability, you will be placed in the ‘Priority’ housing group. There are usually bidding systems in place. Register with Housing Associations individually as well as with the council. Waiting lists are standard… how long you will wait depends on a number of factors, but lack of social housing is the main one. A year is a ‘short’ wait.