Housing Benefit Changes

Housing benefit reductions for spare bedrooms (under-occupancy) in social tenancies From April 2013, the Government is proposing to reduce the amount of housing benefit paid to working age tenants of registered providers who have spare bedrooms in their homes. This will apply to all council and housing association tenants. If you already live in a council or housing association home or are thinking of moving into one and have a spare bedroom(s), your housing benefit could be cut.

What is working age?

Anyone NOT in receipt of their pension, this age will change in line with government plans to align the retirement age for men and women.

How will these changes affect me?

The changes will only apply to people of working age.

Housing benefit rules allow:

• One bedroom for each adult or couple as part of the household.  This means a couple is expected to need one bedroom and two adults who are not a couple to need two bedrooms.
• A child under the age of 16 is expected to share with another child of the same gender, while children under 10 are expected to share with another child regardless of gender.
• A bedroom for a non-resident carer is allowed where they provide care to a person with a disability.
• If you have extra bedrooms to accommodate children you have access rights to, you will not receive housing benefit to cover the extra bedroom(s) in your home.

Here are some examples of families who will be affected by these changes.

• A single person or a couple living in a 2, 3 or 4 bedroom house.
• A single person or a couple with one child, living in a 3 or 4 bedroom house.
• A single person or a couple with two children of the same sex under the age of 16, living in a 3 or 4 bedroom house.
• A single person or couple with 2 children under 10 of different sexes living in a 3 or 4 bedroom house.
• A couple who have weekend access to a child in a 2 bedroom house.
• A couple with one person aged 59 and the other person aged 63.

How much will this cost me?

We anticipate that people currently under occupying by one bedroom will have their housing benefit cut by approximately £11 per week and people under occupying by two or more bedrooms by approximately £22 per week. These figures are approximate only and will be confirmed nearer April 2013.

What shall I do now?

Look for rehousing?

If you are already on the waiting list consider very carefully the homes you apply for. If you are of working age and in receipt of housing benefit, this may be cut if you are under-occupying your home.

I am under occupying already?

If you are already a tenant of a social landlord and are under-occupying your home, you might want to consider these options:

• Applying to join homechoice to begin looking for a smaller home. You may be able to find a home with fewer bedrooms, although this is subject to availability and the supply of smaller homes is limited.
• Applying to find someone to swap homes with you by way of a mutual exchange via the national mutual exchange website, Homeswapper.
• Homeswapper has the largest list of council and housing association tenants looking to swap homes. For more details log on to the Homeswapper website at: www.homeswapper.co.uk

I dont want to move?

If you are an existing tenant of a social landlord such as Peaks & Plains, Wulvern or Plus Dane you can remain in your present home but from April 2013 you will have to pay the shortfall in your housing benefit for any extra spare bedrooms.

These changes are subject to approval by the Government. We will update you as the proposals go through Parliament.

For further information or advice relating to housing benefit call Cheshire East Council on 0300 123 5013

For advice and information relating to your Housing Application please contact Cheshire Homechoice on 0300 123 5031

For other information please contact your landlord