Welfare Reform Brochure - Hyde Housing Association
Welfare Reform Brochure - Hyde Housing Association
Welfare Reform Brochure - Hyde Housing Association
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BENEFITS<br />
ARE<br />
CHANGING<br />
How will they affect you?<br />
Bedroom tax*<br />
If you are living in a property with any spare bedrooms your<br />
housing benefit may be cut from April 2013.<br />
• You may lose between £12 to £20 per week from your<br />
housing benefit<br />
You may have to cover any difference between your benefits<br />
and your rent by budgeting your money<br />
* Also known as under occupancy
The government is bringing in new rules for<br />
anyone who gets housing benefit from April<br />
2013. From this date housing benefit will be<br />
cut for residents who are under occupying.<br />
If you have full housing benefit now you will<br />
get less money if you are under occupying.<br />
Are you under occupying?<br />
Q What is under occupancy?<br />
A Under occupancy is living in a home with more<br />
bedrooms than the housing rules say you need for<br />
the number of people in your household.<br />
Q Do the new rules affect you?<br />
A the new rules mean you will only be allowed one<br />
bedroom for:<br />
• Each adult couple<br />
• Any other person age 16yrs or over<br />
• Two children of the same sex under 16 yrs of age<br />
• Two children under 10yrs of age no matter what sex<br />
• Any other child<br />
• A carer (who does not normally live with you) if you<br />
or your partner need overnight care<br />
Case study<br />
Mr and Mrs Brown live in a two bedroom flat. Mrs Brown is 59<br />
and Mr Brown is 66. Mr Brown is retired he gets a state retirement<br />
pension. Mr & Mrs Brown will not be affected by the cuts.<br />
The rules do affect everyone, under pensionable age,<br />
living in affordable housing including; the disabled<br />
and foster carers.<br />
Foster Carer’s and residents in disabled properties may<br />
receive a Discretionary <strong>Housing</strong> Payment.<br />
The cuts will not affect pensioners or those people in<br />
shared ownership homes.<br />
If you or your partner is of pension credit age you will<br />
not be affected by the under occupancy rules.<br />
If your household changes, for example if someone in<br />
the household dies, you will have one year before the<br />
cuts affect you.<br />
How much will I lose in housing benefit?<br />
The amount you lose will depend on how many<br />
bedrooms you are under occupying by<br />
Example of amount you could lose*<br />
Under occupying by one bedroom<br />
Under occupying by two or more<br />
bedrooms<br />
2<br />
Case study<br />
Mrs Shar lives in a 3 bed house with her two children and is getting full<br />
housing benefit. The children each have a bedroom. Her daughter is aged<br />
9yrs and her son is aged 6yrs. The rent is £120 a week. Mrs Shar receives<br />
Job Seekers Allowance. From April 2013 Mrs Shar will have to pay £16.80<br />
towards her rent.<br />
Rent<br />
Weekly<br />
loss<br />
Monthly<br />
loss<br />
£75 £100 £125 £150 Rent £75 £100 £125 £150<br />
Weekly<br />
£10.50 £14 £17.50 £21 £18.75 £25 £31.25 £37.50<br />
loss<br />
£45.50 £60.67 £75.83 £91<br />
Monthly<br />
£81.25 £108.33 £135.42 £162.50<br />
loss<br />
*Based on 12 months a year and 52 weeks
We have experts who can<br />
• Offer free benefits advice and work out the amount of benefits<br />
you can get<br />
• Give free confidential money and debt advice and can help you<br />
plan for the future<br />
• Help you set up a payment plan and direct debit payments so<br />
you don’t get into arrears<br />
Email<br />
welfare.reform@hyde-housing.co.uk<br />
Call us on<br />
0800 389 3576<br />
www.hyde-housing.co.uk<br />
facebook.com/hydegroup<br />
twitter.com/hydehousing
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