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Housing Benefit changes from January 2012
From January 2012, the shared accommodation rate was extended to people aged under 35 and means that single people under 35 will no longer receive Housing Benefit based on one bedroom self-contained accommodation.
We will be contacting those people that could be affected by these changes.
Visit www.direct.gov.uk and Shelter for further information.
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Housing Benefit changes from 01 April 2011
The Government announced changes to the way Housing Benefit is to be calculated and those changes started on April 2011.
If you are renting accommodation from a private landlord or thinking of moving into a privately rented property these changes will affect you.
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Local Housing Allowance (LHA): no more top–up
If you currently receive more Housing Benefit than you pay in rent this is called the top-up. After 01 April 2011 this top-up will stop on the date when we next update the LHA rate on your claim (this is referred to as the anniversary date). The amount of top–up may have been as much as £15 per week. If you are affected by this change we will write to you.
If you move to another private rented or Housing Association property the top–up will stop.
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Local Housing Allowance: new formula
From 01 April 2011 LHA rates will be calculated using a different formula implemented by the government. This new formula will mean that the LHA rate used to calculate Housing Benefit entitlement will be lower than before.
LHA rates only apply to claims from tenants of privately rented accommodation – they do not apply to tenants of Housing Association accommodation.
The lower LHA rates will apply from 01 April 2011 if you:
- Make a new claim for a privately rented address
- Move to a privately rented address
- Have a change in circumstances, which means you need a smaller privately rented property
If you already receive Housing Benefit for a privately rented address based on LHA and providing your circumstances do not change, the lower amounts from April 2011 may not affect you immediately. Based on current information the lower rates for existing LHA customers may not affect you until January 2012 at the earliest. We will contact you before your existing Housing Benefit claim is affected by the new rates.
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Local Housing Allowance: current rate:
If you're renting from a private landlord in Hastings or St Leonards these figures apply to you!
These following rates are the maximum amount of help you may receive. The size of the property depends on the number and age of the people in your household.
The rates from 01 April 2012 to 31 March 2013:
- Single room rate: £65.00 per week
- 1 Bedroom: £91.15 per week
- 2 Bedrooms: £115.38 per week
- 3 Bedrooms: £161.31 per week
- 4 Bedrooms: £196.15 per week
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Local Housing Allowance: overnight care
From 01 April 2011 if either you or your partner need overnight care and have a bedroom solely for the use of either a carer or different carers who live elsewhere, the changes to LHA scheme may mean that you can get help to pay for the extra bedroom. This applies where a disabled customer has an established need for a non-resident carer.
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Non-dependant deductions
From 01 April 2011 adult members of your household may have to pay more towards your rent as the government has greatly increased the rates for non-dependant deductions.
A non-dependant is usually an adult son, daughter, parent or friend who lives with you as part of your household. The government assumes that non-dependants will make a contribution towards your rent and Council Tax so deductions will be made from your benefit entitlement.
If you or your partner are registered blind or receive either Attendance Allowance or the Care component of Disability Living Allowance there is no non-dependant deduction.
If your benefit is reduced from 01 April 2011 in respect of a non-dependant the deduction amount will be based on the non-dependant's income and circumstances.
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Changes to Tax Credits and Child Benefit
From 01 April 2011 there are also changes to Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit.
Visit www.hmrc.gov.uk for further information. If any of your tax credits change it may affect the amount of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit you are entitled to. You must notify us straightaway of any change in tax credits.
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Benefit Matters newsletter
The first edition is now available:
