Sanukk wrote:
> Hi All
> 
> I've just received the numbers for my new claim and there's a few things
> I'm not sure about. First I had a pre rental determination (or whatever
> it's called) that said they should pay £475 pcm (the full rent) but the
> letter I've just got through says they will pay 99.28 per week (that works
> out at £430.22 pcm), nearly forty-five quid a week short. Can this be
> right?
> 
> The numbers they gave add up correctly (assuming the sums they gave were
> indeed what they should be) but they worked out my expendable cash and used
> this as the starting point for both HB AND Council Tax, surely after paying
> out one this should be reduced for calculations with the other?
> 
> I'm on IB and DLA if that's important.
> 
> -S

I think the most likely reason for this is that your IB is above your 
applicable amount. On your award letter, it should show 'applicable 
amout' or 'the amount the government says you need to live on' or 
something similar. If your income, not counting your DLA is above this 
figure, your HB is reduced on a scale (called the taper).

The RO only set the rent amount used in the benefit calculation. The 
benefit calculation itself is much more complicated and takes a lot more 
into account.

Another possibility is that you got the PTD before 7/04/08 and made the 
HB claim after that date, which would be based on the LHA amount, not 
the PTD.

The best thing you can do in that case is appeal, sending them the PTD 
and see what happens.