From April 2013, the Government is to reduce the amount of Housing Benefit (HB) paid to working age tenants who have spare bedrooms in their homes. This new rule will apply to all Housing Association tenants. This includes tenants of Golden Gates Housing Trust. If you have 1 spare bedroom, the amount of HB you receive is to be reduced by 14% and 25% if you have 2 or more spare bedrooms. What is working age? At the moment working age is someone less than 60 years and 6 months. How will this affect you? It will be up to YOU to pay more to your landlord to make up the reduction in your HB. People affected will include: • • • • • Single, working, HB claimants living alone in properties with two bedrooms or more (even where a second bedroom is needed due to parental access to children). Couples living alone in properties with two bedrooms or more (even where the second bedroom is needed due to a disability where there is no outside care or for grandchildren). Families who live in properties with three bedrooms or more where children can share a bedroom, for example, two same gender children aged under 16, or two children aged under 10 regardless of gender. Families with foster children will also be affected as foster children are not considered to be part of the claimants household for assessing the number of bedrooms you need. If you have a non-resident carer who stays overnight, you may be allowed an additional room. Help and Advice Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) 01925 246994 The Gateway, 89 Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1SR www.citizensadvice.org.uk Warrington Housing Benefits 01925 443210 Contact Warrington, 26-30 Buttermarket Street, Warrington www.warrington.gov.uk/residents Vulnerable Tenant Support Scheme 01744 670265 The Gateway, 89 Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1SR Shelter 0344 515 2911 (Advice Line) www.shelter.org.uk Warrington Credit Unions www.warringtoncreditunions.co.uk Direct Gov www.direct.gov.org.uk You can access the internet at Contact Warrington and libraries in Warrington.
© Copyright 2024