Changes to Housing Benefit from April 2011
Changes to Non-Dependent Deductions
In June 2010 the Chancellor announced that the rates of non-dependent deductions will be increased over the next three years.
Will this affect me?
Yes, if your current benefit claim has a non – dependant deduction this will affect you from April 2011. Housing Benefit notices sent out in March 2011detailed the new levels of deductions. We have updated our website to reflect the changes from April 2012. Please go to our non-dependent deductions page using the link below for more information.
Private Rental Tenancies
From April 2011 the Government is making changes to Housing Benefit, for tenants renting from a landlord in the private sector .
Will this affect me?
Yes, 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?
From 1 April 2011.
The maximum £15 weekly Housing Benefit excess payment that some people can get now will end. This means that you will not be able to get more money from Housing Benefit than the amount you pay in rent.
There will be maximum rate caps, so that Local Housing Allowance weekly rates in any area cannot be more than:
- £250 for a 1 bedroom property per week
- £290 for a 2 bedroom property per week
- £340 for a 3 bedroom property per week
- £400 for a 4 bedroom property per week
There will no longer be a 5 bedroom Local Housing Allowance rate. The maximum level will be for a 4 bedroom property.
The Government will reduce Local Housing Allowance rates to lower amounts, please check the website to find out the latest Local Housing Allowance rates and for further information and updates.
How will this affect me?
It is possible that the amount of Housing Benefit you receive to pay towards your rent could go down. If your Housing Benefit is paid directly to your Landlord, the amount your Landlord receives could go down. If you are getting or thinking of making a claim for Housing Benefit, you need to consider these changes before you renew or make a new tenancy agreement with a private Landlord.
When will this affect me?
- If you are making a new claim to Housing Benefit or moving home, the changes will affect you from April 2011.
- If you are already claiming Housing Benefit, you will normally have more time before your entitlement changes. If your circumstances don’t change, you will have nine months based on your current weekly entitlement after your claim is next assessed on or after 1 April 2011.
For example:
If your next assessment is due in June 2011 the changes will not affect you until March 2012, 9 months later. You will not get more money in Housing Benefit than you pay in rent after we assess your claim.
When will my claim next be assessed?
You can work out from the date you made your original claim for Housing Benefit, or from the date we last assessed your Housing Benefit entitlement.
For example:
If you first made a claim for Housing Benefit on 5 September 2010 your yearly reassessment date will be 5 September 2011.
Please remember that these changes may affect you sooner if:
- You are getting Housing Benefit and move home
- Your household changes, such as someone leaves or comes to live with you
To help you plan for the changes you can compare the current LHA rates against what the new rates are likely to be for where you live, by visiting the Valuation Office Agency website, using the link at the bottom of the page.