Housing Benefit Reading Answers

Oct 26, 2023

Housing Benefit Reading Answers is a general reading topic. The given IELTS topic has originated from the book named “Practice Tests for IELTS 2 Volume 2”. The topic named Housing Benefit Reading Answers comes with 7 questions in total. The topic comes with a solo type of question, that is, complete the sentences in no more than two words. The candidates should thoroughly read the IELTS reading passage to recognize the synonyms and identify the keywords and answer the questions below. IELTS reading practice papers can be taken into consideration by the candidates in order to score a good score in the reading section in which similar topics like Housing Benefit Reading Answers has been included.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the following questions

Housing Benefit Reading Answers

Housing Benefit

If you live in this country, it is possible that you may be eligible for housing benefit. Housing benefit can pay for part or all of your rent. How much you get depends on your income and circumstances. You can apply for housing benefit whether you're unemployed or working. You might also be able to get your claim backdated if your circumstances warranted it. Ask your local housing office for details on all these things.

How to Get It

Housing benefit is dealt with at your housing office. Find the application form online on the housing office website or pick one up at their offices. There are online (or hard copy at the housing office) guidance notes available to help you fill it in. Application forms must be posted to the housing office. The housing office will first contact you by phone, so don't forget to include your telephone number in your application. Those chosen to receive benefits will receive the funds by bank transfer. For further information, go to the housing office website.

How Much?

How much you get depends on your eligible rent, if you have a spare room, your household income (including benefits), pensions and savings and your circumstances - e.g. age of people in the house or if someone has a disability. Eligible rent means the reasonable rent for a suitable property in your area. It includes service charges (e.g. for lift maintenance or a communal laundry), but not things like heating. The housing office website's calculator can help you test your entitlement to housing benefit.

You will get it...

It's possible to get housing benefit if you pay rent, if you're on a low income or claiming benefits or if your savings are below a certain level (usually $20,000). You can apply if you're employed or unemployed, but if you live with a partner, only one of you can get benefit.

You won't get it...

Usually you won't get housing benefit if your savings are over $20,000, if you live in the home of a close relative, if you're a full-time student (unless you're disabled or have children) or if you're an asylum seeker.

Changes in Circumstances

Tell your local housing office if your situation changes, as this can affect your chances of receiving benefit or how much you get. If you fail to notify the housing office of changes in your situation, you may even face prosecution. Examples of changes in your situation include losing your job, a child leaving school, your rent changing or if you go away for more than 1 month. If you're not sure, ask your housing office.

If there are any queries regarding your situation, your housing office might ask you in for a housing office meeting. If you are asked in for a meeting, you'll need to bring accurate information about your savings (bank statements), earnings (payslips), and existing benefits and pensions that you receive and your outgoings (rent, mortgage, childcare payments). If you can't provide information on any of these things, you might spoil your chances of getting housing benefit.

Section 2

Questions 8-14

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.

If you feel that you were eligible for housing benefit before you apply, your application maybe.................

Answer: BACKDATED
Supporting Sentence: You might also be able to get your claim backdated if your circumstances warranted it.
Keywords: claim backdated, warranted
Keyword Location: Housing Benefit
Explanation: The author explains that if your circumstances allowed it, you may also be eligible to have your claim backdated. All of this information can be obtained from your local housing office.

................. assisting with the housing benefit application form can be found in a digital or paper format.

Answer: (GUIDANCE) NOTES
Supporting Sentence: There are online (or hard copy at the housing office) guidance notes available to help you fill it in.
Keywords: online or hard copy
Keyword Location: How to Get It
Explanation: In the above supporting sentence, the author explains that find the application form on the housing office's website or pick one up in person. There are guiding notes available online (or in hard copy at the housing office) to assist you in filling it out.

The method used for paying housing benefit is ………

Answer: BANK TRANSFER
Supporting Sentence: Those chosen to receive benefits will receive the funds by bank transfer.
Keywords: receive benefits
Keyword Location: How to Get It
Explanation: In the above supporting sentence, the author explains that the housing office will contact you first by phone, so include your phone number in your application. Beneficiaries will receive their payments via bank transfer.

The costs of keeping a house warm are not taken into account when calculating an Individual'.................

Answer: ELIGIBLE RENT
Supporting Sentence: How much you get depends on your eligible rent, if you have a spare room, your household income
Keywords: household income
Keyword Location: How Much?
Explanation: The amount you receive is determined by your qualifying rent, whether you have a spare room, your household income (including benefits), pensions, and savings, and your circumstances, such as the age of the individuals in the house or whether someone has a disability.

A................ found online can advise you on your eligibility for housing benefit

Answer: CALCULATOR
Supporting Sentence: The housing office website's calculator can help you test your entitlement to housing benefit.
Keywords: website's calculator
Keyword Location: How Much?
Explanation: The author mentions including service charges (for example, lift maintenance or a communal laundry), but excludes items such as heating. The housing office website's calculator can assist you in determining your eligibility for housing aid.

You can rise................ by not informing your housing office of changes in your Circumstances.

Answer: PROSECUTION
Supporting Sentence: If you fail to notify the housing office of changes in your situation, you may even face prosecution.
Keywords: housing office, face prosecution
Keyword Location: You won't get it…
Explanation: The author asks to inform your local housing office if your status changes, as this may impact your eligibility for benefits or the amount you get. You may even risk prosecution if you neglect to notify the housing office of changes in your position.

Tak................ to a housing office meeting if you need to show how much you are paid.

Answer: PAYSLIPS
Supporting Sentence: …earnings (payslips), and existing benefits and pensions that you receive and your outgoings (rent, mortgage, childcare payments).
Keywords: earnings (payslips)
Keyword Location: Changes in Circumstances
Explanation: If you are called in for a meeting, you must present precise information about your savings (bank statements), wages (payslips), current benefits and pensions, and outgoings (rent, mortgage, childcare payments).