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Further information on changes to Housing Benefit What has changed? From April 2011 the Government made changes to Housing Benefit for tenants renting from a landlord in the private sector. These changes will affect you if you are renting a property from a private landlord and receiving Housing Benefit and you made your claim for your current address on or after 7 April 2008.
When is it changing? The Government reduced the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates from April 2011 to a lower amount. If you are making or have made a new claim to Housing Benefit or have moved home since 1 April 2011, these changes already apply to you and you will already receive the lower Local Housing Allowance rate. If you were already claiming before April 2011, you would have had “transitional protection”. This means that (provided your circumstances haven’t changed) you will have nine months benefit based on the old Local Housing Allowance rate starting from the date we next assess your Housing Benefit on or after 1 April 2011. At the end of the nine months, your transitional protection will end and your benefit will then be assessed using the lower Local Housing Allowance rates. For instance if your next LHA anniversary date was due in June 2011 the changes would not affect you until March 2012. If you are getting or thinking of claiming Housing Benefit, you need to consider these changes before you renew or make a new tenancy agreement with a private landlord.
Discretionary Housing Payments If you find that the benefit you receive does not meet the rent charged and/or Council Tax you are due to pay, you can apply to Swale Borough Council for extra help called a “Discretionary Housing Payment”. To receive this payment, you have to show that you cannot afford the shortfall in your rent and/ or Council Tax, or if you do so, you or someone in your family will suffer hardship. If you would like to apply for this extra help, please contact the Benefits Team for an application form.
Where to go for more information You can get more information at www.direct.gov.uk You can also contact the Benefits team at the Council by calling 01795 417 555. The Citizens Advice Bureau www.citizensadvice.org.uk Shelter www.shelter.org.uk You can also contact the Council’s Housing Options team on 01795 417 511. www.swale.gov.uk
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