{"id":651,"date":"2011-05-27T20:11:06","date_gmt":"2011-05-27T20:11:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk\/?p=651"},"modified":"2018-01-01T20:13:43","modified_gmt":"2018-01-01T20:13:43","slug":"housing-benefit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk\/?p=651","title":{"rendered":"Housing Benefit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Changes coming into force from April 2011.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Government has introduced rules which make the changes listed below – the intention is to save \u00a32 billion. They have used their media to push the\u00a0lie that Housing Benefit is a disincentive to finding work. London figures show that 87% of claimants of Housing Benefit are in work! The Housing Benefit costs are in reality a reflection of just how feather-bedded landlords are and how miserable wages are for millions of workers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maximum size of a dwelling which can be paid for by housing benefit\u00a0capped at\u00a04 bedrooms<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>LHA rates payable for each category of property capped to the following wherever the property is situated in the country:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n
      \n
    • One bedroom in shared house \u00a3250<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
    • One bed self contained \u00a3250<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Two bed \u00a3290<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Three bed \u00a3340<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Four bed \u00a3400<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
    • The claimant could get less HB than this if s\/he has income or capital to take into account. If claimant was getting Housing Benefit before 7\/4\/08, the LHA rates only apply if there is a change of address, or there is a break in the claim.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Removal of\u00a0provision which allows a claimant to retain up to \u00a315 where they rent a property below the LHA rate.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Reduction of\u00a0the LHA rate from the median of rents in each BRMA to the 30th percentile. (They allow for an additional room to be included in the size criteria for a non-resident carer of a disabled claimant)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • The rules allow for the rate of HB to be protected for up to 9 months for existing claimants.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      From January 2012, the shared accommodation rate goes from being applicable to under 25’s to under 35’s. If a claimant is planning on moving to a new address, he\/she can claim up to 13 weeks before the move.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n\r\n\t\t