David started a new job in February 2008 but left after 3 months as his Housing Benefit was stopped to be re-calculated due to him starting work.  This became too stressful so David decided to leave his job to go back on full benefits. 

David was offered employment again in August 2009 but was anxious about taking the job if things were going to be the same as before.  After with meeting a HELP Adviser and doing a ‘Better off Calculation’, he was convinced that things would be different this time around with the in-work support from HELP and decided to accept the job. 
 
David's HELP Adviser informed him of the returning to work benefits he would be entitled to such as the Job Grant of £250 for lone parents and the In-work Credit a tax-free payment of £60/week for one year if working 16 hours or more per week.  He was also told that if he worked for a minimum of 13-weeks he would be awarded £100 in High St Vouchers from the HELP Project. 
 
HELP also supported David in applying for the Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) to receive financial support which pays the shortfall between Housing Benefit and rent for working residents.  David received the full amount of £250 per week which meant he didn’t have to pay anything towards his rent for six months, after that he re-applied again to get up to £50 per work for a further six months. 
 
One issue that David has found from returning to work is that he finds it extremely difficult to get into the Housing Benefits Office to declare earnings on a monthly basis; a requirement by Housing Benefit to check his pay slips to ensure that his entitlement is correct and adjusted accordingly.  The HELP Project has seen this as a barrier for David, and other working clients, so are currently lobbying on their behalf to find a better solution for this process. 
 
As David is in employment, he was referred by HELP to apply for an intermediate rental property through Catalyst Housing Group, the Westminster Home Ownership Scheme.  The Catalyst Housing Scheme offer rent rates that are more affordable as they are between the private sector and permanent council property rates.  This is an alternative option compared to staying in a temporary accommodation property where rents are very high and where there can be a six year wait for a two bedroom and seven year wait for a three bedroom apartment home in Westminster. 
 
David’s earnings were assessed for eligibility, which he passed and he is now waiting to see when a home will become available