Winter 2012 - Renfrewshire Council

FEATURE
WEALTHIER AND FAIRER RENFREWSHIRE
WEALTHIER AND FAIRER RENFREWSHIRE
FEATURE
Money,
Money,Money
More people than ever are experiencing financial difficulties.
Major changes being made by the UK Government to the benefits
system will affect even more people. We explain those changes in this
four-page special.
The government's changes will see
thousands of working-age people living in
Renfrewshire receiving less benefit.
As your local authority, we know this
will be worrying. That’s why we think it’s
important to make you aware of what’s
changing now so you can start to plan
ahead.
The changes might mean you’ll need to
apply for a new type of benefit, and in some
cases you may receive less money than you
did before.
However, by finding out now what is
going to change you may be able to take
steps to prepare.
How is Housing Benefit changing?
New rates of Housing Benefit will take
account of the size of each property.
Where the government believes people
are living in a property with more bedrooms
than they need, their housing benefit will be
reduced. This is sometimes called ‘underoccupancy’
or ‘bedroom tax’.
This could mean your Housing Benefit
will be less than the rent you have to pay.
Renfrewshire Council tenants who are
going to be affected will be contacted
directly by the council.
?
Did you know?
The new 'under-occupancy' rules
are expected to affect around 3,000
households in Renfrewshire, with more
than £1.8million worth of housing
benefit lost locally.
From April 2013, working-age tenants will
only be entitled to:
··
One bedroom for each adult couple.
··
One bedroom for any other adult aged
16 or over.
··
One bedroom for any two children of the
same sex under the age of 16.
··
One bedroom for any two children of
either sex under the age of ten.
··
One bedroom for any other child (other
than a foster child or child whose main
home is elsewhere).
These rules will affect couples who
need to sleep apart because of a medical
condition and parents who have a spare
room for when their child comes to stay.
However, a disabled tenant or partner
who needs a non-resident overnight carer
will still be entitled to an extra bedroom.
What can you do?
www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/benefitchanges
··
Choose to pay the difference and stay
where you are.
··
Increase your income by taking on a job
or more hours at work.
··
Make sure you are claiming all the other
benefits you are entitled to.
··
You may decide to move home.
··
Apply for a Discretionary Housing
Payment.
Contact your landlord for more
information. If you are a council tenant call
0300 300 0175.
14 www.renfrewshire.gov.uk
Renfrewshire Winter 2012
Renfrewshire Winter 2012
www.renfrewshire.gov.uk
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