Terms & Conditions

[Colin Adams]

Good Morning,

Changes of address within the area which took place back in 2015 and 2016; moves between private tenancies all are LHA claims.

We received confirmation of the change of address on 29th August 2015.

When the claim has been set up on Northgate, the receipt date has been registered as 27th October 2011 which is the original receipt date with the claim date registered as 17th October 2011 which was the original claim date.

Personally, I would have registered the receipt date as 1st September 2015 which is when we were advised of the change and the claim date as 29th August 2015 which is the date when the claimant moved to the new address. I would have selected first week so the claim is paid from 29th August 2015.

I have noticed as per the LHA assessment that the applicable rate date is populated as 17th October 2011 which means the LHA rate applied to the claim from 29th August 2015 is the LHA rate as of 17th October 2011.

The claimant then moved again on 16th July 2016 and again the receipt date has been registered as 27th October 2011 as per the original claim.

I would have registered to receipt date as 18th July 2016 which is when we were advised of the change and registered the claim date as 16th July 2016 selecting first week so HB is awarded for the new address from 16th July 2016.

The applicable rate date is registered as 27th October 2011 so again the LHA rate included on the claim is the amount that applied in October 2011.

I was always under the impression that the LHA rate which should apply is that which is applicable on the date of change i.e. for the move which took place in August 2015 the LHA rate at that time should be applied to the claim and for the move which took place in July 20165 that the LHA rate at that time should be applied to the claim.

Ward and Lister advises under the heading “When your LHA figure changes” you move home, your HB changes from the date the move takes effect; I don’t see why we have used the LHA figure from 2011.

I don’t think the LHA rate from October 2011 should be used; can you please advise of your opinion?

I am not sure the HB we have awarded is correct.

Thank you,

Colin

[pbirks]

first week yes only applies to new claims – a change of address is not a new claim, itds a change in circumstances.
theres no need for fiorst week yea claimns because the old address should pay up to the last day of residency and then the new address from the day after – first week yes only applies wheres theres no earlier benefit period

With changes of address the claim date is the original claim date

LHA began in 2008 and was at that point set each mnonth, but from 2013, the LHA rate became annual rates so it wouldnt matter if the customer moved in the year, the only reason the LHA rate would change is if the number of bedrooms they needed changed.
TIf you are northgate – the LHA rate is generally picked up from the start date of the address and the household scrren for those dates to pick up the number of bedrooms needed.

[Colin Adams]

Thank you; the claim date is the original claim date.

Should the LHA rate be as it was when the original claim was made in 2011 or should the rate applied be as the LHA rate was is 2015 and 2016?

[pbirks]

the LHA rates update each year from 2013, so any changes of address or household memebers should propmt to check if a new LHA fiure is required

If you are Northgate, the rent and LHA are separate o=inpurts – you need to make sure the start of any new address has a corr3esponding new start date for LHA rates. HArd to show without screen shots – If you are on Nortgate, srop me your email address and I’ll ping some over to show what I mean /what it should look like

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