What happens if you have any spare bedrooms?
If you have any spare bedrooms then housing benefit will not pay as much as they did before towards your rent. This is called a deduction. This means that you will need to make payments towards your rent yourself, from your own income and/or other benefits. If you have 1 spare bedroom then the deduction will be 14% and it will be 25% if you have 2 or more spare bedrooms.
For example, if your rent is £85 per week and was paid in full by housing benefit and you have 1 spare bedroom the amount of housing benefit you receive will be reduced by £11.90 (14% of your rent). This would mean that you would need to pay £11.90 per week towards your rent yourself.
Important changes to welfare and benefits in 2013
Welfare Reform guideThe Government is introducing cuts to your Housing Benefit if they think you have any spare bedrooms.
Please be advised that you WILL NOT be affected if you or your partner are old enough to receive pension credit. In April 2013 the pension credit age will be 61 years and 6 months.
Residents with children should be aware that the new housing benefit rules mean that some children will be expected to share a bedroom. The new rules mean that 1 bedroom is allowed for each of the following regardless of the size of the room:
2 children of the same sex who are under 16 years of age
2 children of different sexes who are under 10 years of age
An additional child
A couple (married or unmarried)
Anyone else over 16
A carer (or team of carers) for overnight care, but this cannot be anyone who lives with you
Please visit our housing site - claiming benefits and select your landlord to check how you are affected.
Special Circumstances
Some residents who will be affected by these changes may be able to get an exemption or help towards the deductions. Examples may include:-
The spare bedroom is needed for regular overnight care (provided by someone who does not normally live with you)
You have a disabled child who cannot share with another child
Your home has been significantly adapted to meet the physical needs of a member of your family.
Please contact us for more information about exemptions or other help available.
Please visit our housing site - claiming benefits and select your landlord to check how you are affected.
OTHER CHANGES
The Benefit Cap
The Government is also introducing a maximum amount households can receive each week in benefits. The most that a household can receive is:-
£500 per week for single parents
£500 per week for couples with or without children
£350 per week for single people without children
This will not apply to you if:
You get pension credit or working tax credit
A member of your household is claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA), attendance allowance or the support element of Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
Welfare Reform
Please visit our housing site - claiming benefits and select your landlord to check how you are affected.
Council Tax Support
The Government is also introducing changes to the way residents can get help towards Council Tax. Each local council is creating it’s own scheme.
In most areas, residents who currently receive Council Tax Benefit will see a drop in the help that they get and you will no longer be able to get all your Council Tax paid, even if you are unemployed, sick or disabled.
Please visit our housing site - claiming benefits and select your landlord to check how you are affected.
CONTACT US NOW
If you are concerned about being affected by any of these changes please get in touch.