Claimant has substantial rent arrears (in excess of 8 weeks).
A court order was obtained wef 1.7.11.
To avoid eviction proceedings, the claimant was advised by the landlord to pay the full amount of the court order plus an arrangement to clear arrears. Claimant paid approx £250 to her rent account as requested.
Following a revision/complaint we have been able to award HB wef 4.7.11 – 25.7.11 which covers the same period as part of the court order.
The housing benefit underpayment was to be paid to Landlord as claimant is more than 8 weeks in arrears. However, the claimant has strongly requested that we pay the underpayment to her as she paid full rent for the same period.
I can understamd what she is saying as she needs the underpayment to reinburse her family who originally gave her the money to pay the court order.
Am I right in thinking that regardless of whether she paid rent for the same period, the fact that she is more than 8 weeks in arrears means that we have to pay the LL.
Please help
🙂 :bigsmile: