I need some help with this

A question about : I need some help with this

31, male, no kids, still living at home, no job, getting income based jobseekers allowance.

My life is really stifled. I (obviously) need to move out.

I don't understand housing benefit and what they will pay for me until I get a job. I'm getting mixed signals and can't understand the government websites properly.

I'm registered on the local council website for property vacancies and I was offered one last week, a bedsit. It was extremely small and really depressing, put me off...Living. Anyway, I didn't want to take that so refused it. The rent and charges came to about Ј90 a week. They were gonna give me it, I think.

After this, I saw a great 1 bedroom flat on Gumtree, looked bigger and better than the council one and I asked them about it and they said something like, 'since I'm under 35 I won't be able to get full housing benefit' and so couldn't afford the place...Yet it was about Ј82 a week - It was cheaper than the council place.

Is something different because this is a private landlord?

How much will I really get?

If no one can tell me, who do I go and see?

Thanks..

Best answers:

• If you are single and under 35 and rent privately you will get the local housing allowance in the form of the shared accomodation rate for your area. This means you will be entitled to enough money to enable you to rent a room in a shared house. If this amount doesnt cover the rent on the place youve seen then you will have to make it up yourself
• Yes, with private rentals you will only receive the shared rate of LHA - you can find out this figure on your local authority website.
  In social housing, you will be eligible for full HB for a studio or one bedroom property.
• Ah, I get it now. Thanks both.
  I found a site that explains it better than others.
  Can't give the link because I'm a new member so here's a copy-paste for the Tyne and Wear area:
  Quote:
• It's a pity that Tyne and Wear couldn't be bothered to notice that the year after 2012 is actually 2013 (twice in the short extract given)!