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Important changesto Welfare BenefitschemesApril 2012 – March 2013If you receive money from thegovernment, the amount you getcould change.The Welfare Reform Act 2012introduces the biggest changesto welfare benefits for over 60years.The Act aims to make benefitsand Tax Credits fairer andsimpler for everyone, creatingincentives to encourage thosewho can work into employmentwhilst protecting the mostvulnerable in our society.If you receive benefits or TaxCredits, and your payments willbe affected by the changes, theoffice which deals with yourclaim will contact you directwith more information.Please remember, if yourincome goes down as a resultof benefit changes you maybe entitled to financial helpthrough other schemes. Lotsof organisations offer free,independent advice which couldhelp you. We’ve included somepopular contact details at theend of this insert.Housing Benefit and CouncilTax Benefit changes fromApril 2012Non-dependantdeductions will increasemeaning you’ll receiveless benefit if you claimHousing Benefit orCouncil Tax Benefit andyou live with another adult(who is not your partner),like a grown-up child forexample.The government expectsthese other adults to pay yousomething towards yourhousehold bills, so we haveto stop an amount from yourHousing Benefit or CouncilTax Benefit to account forthis. This action is called a‘non-dependant deduction’.If you live with a non-dependantwe’ll automatically recalculateyour claim and send youconfirmation of your newentitlement.You will need to pay any shortfallin your rent or council taxyourself.NB - This information is correct at the time of going to press.