Local Housing Allowance

Safeguard

'Safeguard' is used where direct payment to the landlord helps claimants who might not otherwise be able to pay their rent themselves. The direct payment is a safeguard to ensure that rent is paid on time and the claimant and their family can continue to live in their home.

The local authority can pay housing benefit to the landlord for up to 8 weeks while it is gathering information to help it decide who to pay benefit to.

Some of the groups in included in the safeguard policy are:

People with learning difficulties
People with medical conditions that seriously affect their ability to manage on a day to day basis
People who are unable to read, write or speak English where this affects their ability to manage their financial affairs
People with addictions to drugs, alcohol or gambling where this affects their ability to manage their financial affairs
People who have experienced recent changes and as a result need additional support in managing their affairs
People who are receiving help under the supporting people scheme
People with a history of homelessness and/or rough sleeping who are receiving help to sustain a tenancy in the private sector
People who are receiving help from a homeless charity
People with severe debt problems or recent County Court Judgements
People who are unable to obtain a bank account - including people who are physically unable to open an account
People who have deductions from their Pension Credit, Income Support or Job Seeker's Allowance for housing costs - housing costs include service charges and utility bills which are part of the rent