Housing Benefit
This is a scheme to help people on low income with their rent. There are three types of assistance :
Rent Rebate
This is provided to help local authority tenants with their rent. If you qualify your rebate will be credited to your rent account.
Rent Allowance
This is provided to help anyone who has to pay a commercial rent to a private landlord or Housing Association, ground rent for mobile homes or mooring and British Waterways Licence fees if you live on a boat. If you qualify payment can be made by bacs transfer direct to your account or if requested to your landlord, Please note that it may not be possible to pay your landlord if your application falls under the new Local Housing Allowance scheme which came into force on 7th April 2008.
Local Housing Allowance
This is a new rent scheme which came into effect from 7th April 2008 . If you rent from a private landlord and make a new claim for benefit, move property to a privately rented address or have a break in you existing claim on or after that date your benefit entitlement will be based on the new Local Housing Allowance Rates. Click here for more information for tenants and private landlords
Benefit is only normally paid when you are living in the property. There are certain exceptions to this. Please see Benefit on Two Homes. or Temporary Absence
Please note that information on housing benefit paid is provided to HM Revenue and Customs yearly under section 35(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998.
- Who Can and Cannot Claim
- How is Benefit Worked Out
- Eligible Rent - will all of my rent be covered
- How Is Housing Benefit Paid?
- What Proofs Do I Need to Support My Claim
- How Do I Make a Benefits Claim?
More Information
Frequently Asked Questions (6)
Under the new rules, one bedroom is allocated for the following:
• Each couple
• Each adult over 16 years old
• Two children under the age of 16 who are of the same gender
• Two children under the age of 10 who are of either gender
• A disabled tenant or partner who needs non-resident overnight carerwill be allowed an extra room
You will be affected by the rule until the date that the change happens.
For couples currently claiming Housing Benefit, both the claimant and theirpartner need to be under the Pension Credit qualifying age to be treatedas working age and subject to the bedroom tax.
… I have a carer who stays with me overnight
Where you have an overnight carer you will not be affected by the Housing Benefit reduction – you will need to contact Charnwood Borough Council’s benefits department on 0845 609 1258 to confirm if you qualify
.... I have my child stay with me at weekends
... I need space for medical equipment
There is no exemption for this, and you will be affected by the housing benefit reduction.
... I am a foster carer *
... I live in an adapted property which has a spare room *
There is no exemption for this, and you will beaffected by the HB reduction,
* however, in exceptional circumstances you may be able toapply forDiscretionary Housing Payment to make up the difference – you will needto contact Charnwood Borough Council’s benefits department on 0845 6091258 to confirm if you qualify.
... I have a disabled child/partner who needs their own room
Generally there will be no exceptions to the application of the size limit rules,other than the cases stated above. If there is a reason that an extra room is necessary your local authority may be able to help you with the extra rentthrough the Discretionary Housing Payment fund.
From 1 April 2013, Housing Benefit (HB) will be reduced if a claimant, of working age, is considered by the Government to live in a home that has more bedrooms than they and their family need.
Anyone of working age who is claiming Housing Benefit and living in social rented housing.
Last updated: Fri 1st March, 2013 @ 10:18
