Housing Benefit - 4 week run on

[lawrence2011]

Have been receiving LHA for the past year and a half but have recently started work. On the day I started work we received our latest LHA payment. We have now received a letter from the council stating there may have been an overpayment, and I believe this is because of the latest payment. The problem is I am going to be paid monthly and will not have enough money to pay rent before my first months salary is paid. I have read somewhere about a four week run on of LHA, do I need to claim this from the council or will it be taken into consideration automatically? Are there any rules regarding the 4 week run on that may exclude us from receiving this run on?

 

Edited: I had been working just four hours per week until recently and so had only been claiming JSA for approx 6 weeks.

 

Any help greatly appreciated.

Edited March 4, 2012 by lawrence2011

[jadeybags]

I think you may have had to be getting JSA for 28 weeks, but someone will know for sure later. I claimed after being on IS for 10 yrs when I first started working, & I definitely had to put in for it, it wasn't automatic.

[Nystagmite]

It's 26 weeks (not 28) to get the 4 week run on.

 

You need to speak to the council about this.

[flumps1976]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018901

This is the link for the 4 week run on of housing benefits, unfortunately if you were only receiving JSA for approx 6 weeks then you are highly unlikely to qualify.

[lawrence2011]

Okay, thanks for all your replies.