Sometimes the first payment is made to the landlord where there is a large payment of benefits. This is done so that the money is paid to prevent any arrears that may have been built up.
See here:
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200008...
(scroll down to the last question)
This will probably be a one off but do get in touch with the council to clarify, particularly as you are concerned about your landlord not knowing that you are receiving HB.
Its paid directly to the landlord to ensure the money goes to whom its intended (which is the landlord and not you)
If they give it to the claimant there is nothing to stop them spending the money on anything they like and.getting into arrears.
The landlord then has the expense of getting them evicted and the lost rent until they do, and the council finding them somewhere to live (cos they are under obligation to do this UNTIL they are evicted)
So not only does the claimant get to spend loads of money, everybody else loses out, ESPECIALLY the landlord.
YOU may not intend to do this but why should the council take the risk cos it DOES happen?
You dont like it then dont claim
If you do claim then be thankful you are getting subsidised to live in a house/flat costing 1400/month when many people dont earn that /month AND have to pay their own rent.
Cos in over 20 years you have done nothing to get your own place when paying that amount of rent implies you could easily have afforded someplace
It might be that if the person received the cheque themselves, they might cash it and not pay the rent. Perhaps they tried teh system of giving the cheques to the tenant and found this not to be a very good idea, thus the change.
This is the method, a person authorized, to get housing benefits in the United States is used. The landlord get a check in the mail each month. The tenant bring in the additional amount and pay the landlord his/her amount.
I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck.
"FIGHT ON"
Housing benefit (local housing allowance) should be paid to you. Ask the council why it is going direct to landlord. Perhaps when you applied you requested this (ticked or didn't tick the appropriate box). Normally rent is only paid directly to the landlord if you are a habitual non payer or you have issues which make it difficult for you to manage your own affairs.
No. That's how the system works, I'm afraid. Paying it to the tenant has been tried in some boroughs and found to increase rent arrears, so paying to the landlord is now the norm.
The normal rule in the UK is that Housing Benefit is paid to the tenant. If your council is doing otherwise, they should have you permission to do so. If you do not want it paid directly to the landlord, challenge them. You have a right to receive the payments yourself.
There is no stigma nowadays to getting benefits. It almost seems to be something to be proud of.
