Important information - Housing Benefit changes

If you are aged between 25 and 35, the government now says you can only claim Housing Benefit up to the rate of shared accommodation to help pay your rent (rather than the rate for one bedroom self contained accommodation).

This lower rate of Housing Benefit will apply to you if:

• you are a single person (no partner or children)
• you live in a one bedroom self-contained accommodation in the private rented sector
• you will be aged 25 or over but under 35 years when your claim is reviewed, or you make a new claim
• you are not covered by any of the exemptions on sharing accommodation (for example, getting Disability Living Allowance (for Care middle/higher rate)), or
• you are an ex offender (subject to a MAPPA) or former rough sleeper (please ask for further information).

This change is planned to happen in January 2012, so when your claim is reviewed, or you make a new claim after this date, you will go onto the shared accommodation rate which will be much lower.  This rate changes from month to month so the exact amount is not known.  The current rate is £54.00 per week which is an idea of what it is likely to be.  If your claim is not assessed under the LHA rules we cannot provide an estimate, but the amount is likely to be much less than the amount you get now.

You need to think about how you are going to pay the extra rent you will owe your landlord or consider moving house.

For more information, please ask at the council's Contact Centre (26/30 Horsemarket Street) or call 01925 443210. 

For help if you think you will struggle paying your rent or are worried about keeping your home, please contact The Housing Options Team on 01925 246868.