If you do not qualify for housing benefit then you can ask a Fairer Charging Financial Assessment.
One of our officers from the Leeds Benefits Service can visit you at home. They will be able to see if you are claiming all of the benefits that you are entitled to. They can also work out if you qualify for any subsidy or help with costs towards your housing. They can also help you to with any forms that you need to fill in.
How the financial assessment works
We will look at your financial circumstances, including;
- The income you have coming in
- Any housing costs you pay.
- Disability related expenditure.
- Income.
We will need to see proof of the following:
- State retirement pension.
- Pension credit.
- Attendance Allowance.
- Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance.
- Incapacity benefit.
- Disability Living Allowance (care component).
- Private pension/superannuation.
- Carers allowance.
There is some income that we will not include:
- Wages.
- Child/Working Tax Credit.
- Child Benefit.
- Disability Living Allowance(mobility component).
- Any capital or savings.
- Housing costs.
You will need to let us know about how much your housing costs. We will also take into account the following:
- Rent.
- Council Tax.
- Water rates.
- Disability related costs.
If you are elderly or disabled person, there may be some things that you are paying for because you need help or can no longer do them for yourself. For example, you may have a cleaner, or you may have had to buy or hire equipment - such as a stair lift -to help you to move around your home safely. Your gas or electric bills could be higher because you need to have the heating on for longer periods. These are all things that the visiting officer can consider when carrying out a financial assessment.
You should try to think about the types of things that you pay for before we come to see you. This will help us make sure that we do not miss anything.
The assessment outcome
After we have collected all the information we need we can compare your weekly income to a ‘cost of living’ figure. The government sets this figure, and we use it along with the other information you have given us, to work out how much help with costs we can provide.
If you want to know more about the assessment process you can contact the Leeds Benefits Service Joint Visiting Team on 0113 247 8626.
Provisional assessment
You may be thinking about moving into Supported Living Accommodation or accepting Support Services and know that you will not be able to claim housing benefit. Help may be available as we can make a ‘provisional assessment’ by telephone.
If you want to find out more please get in touch with us. Our telephone number is 0113 247 8626
If you are already receiving support services then you will not be able to use the provisional assessment procedure