Big changes happened to welfare benefits as a result of Government spending cuts – such as increased deductions from Housing Benefit for adult sons and daughters living at home – but most of the changes will come into effect later this year.
Many residents have been asking us about the change relating to ‘under occupancy’, more commonly known as the ‘Bedroom Tax’. Residents who are under retirement age, have a spare bedroom and claim Housing Benefit will see their benefit reduced by an average of £14 per week per ‘spare’ room.
What are your options?
Set out below are the options available to you. If you have not already, please consider these options when planning how you will manage in the face of these changes.
Options:
1. Pay the difference.
2. Move to a smaller home.
3. Find a job or work longer hours.
4. Take in a lodger.
5. Ask family members to contribute more.
6. Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP).
Click here for our leaflet entitled ‘Renting out Your Spare Room’.
For a copy of the National Housing Federation’s leaflet on the ‘Bedroom Tax’, click here.
Hexagon will need to know what option you are going for, so please contact your Housing Officer to discuss this and to see what help we can offer.