Time for action! Win £100

The overall benefit cap will cap thetotal benefits a person or couple isentitled to. The cap will be set at theaverage net earnings for a workinghousehold. Current projectionsof the cap are £500 per week forcouples and lone parents and £350per week for single people withoutchildren, including housing costs.Under occupation penalty(also known as spare bedroom tax) cutsthe amount of benefit that workingage tenants can get if they have aspare bedroom in their council orhousing association home. It allowsfor one bedroom for each person orcouple, with the following exceptions:• Children under 16 of the samegender are expected to share• Children under 10 are expectedto share, regardless of gender• A disabled tenant or partnerwho needs an overnightcarer will be allowedan extra bedroomThe Government is introducingthis reduction from April 2013. Therates of reduction proposed are:• 14% reduction for being 1bedroom under occupied• 25% reduction for being 2bedrooms under occupiedIf you are of working age,receiving Housing Benefitand have one or more sparebedrooms, your HousingBenefit will be reduced.Direct Payments From October2013 working age tenants will havethe housing element of the newUniversal Credit paid to their bankaccount. Some people will continueto have housing costs paid to theirlandlord but most will have to startpaying rent themselves, out oftheir overall benefit entitlement.What you need to do:• If you are an existing council / housing associationtenant of working age, you can remain inyour present home but from April 2013 youwill have to pay the difference between yourrent and your reduced housing benefit.• If you want to move to a smaller home, you shouldapply for re-housing. Our supply of smaller homes islimited so you need to complete a housing registerapplication. Call 01484 416900 or talk to your housingofficer about the possibility of a mutual exchange.• If you want to stay in your present home, you couldtake in a lodger to help pay the rent – but check withus about non-dependant deductions to housingbenefit.• If you start receiving direct payments, you will need topay your rent on time to avoid legal action.• If you need advice about budgeting, getting a bankaccount or are worried about how you will be affected,call our Money Advice Team on 01484 414886.What we’re doing:Collecting rent is a vital part of KNH’s workas your rent pays for all the housing servicesyou receive. We will do all that we can to helptenants deal with the changes to the benefitssystem but we will also take action againstthose who do not pay their rent on time.Paying rent by direct debit will be the easiestway for most people to pay their rent in thefuture. We are working with banks and creditunions to make sure our tenants have accessto bank accounts so that they can receive theirbenefits and make payments quickly and easily.KNH will be getting in touch with all thoseaffected over the coming months. We will alsokeep you updated about benefits changesthrough Door to Door, special leaflets andon www.knh.org.uk. But if you have anyconcerns in the meantime, please get in touchwith us so we can help. Call 01484 414886.