Bedroom Tax
Drop-In sessions are being held this week to give you more information.
Letters have been issued this week to North Kesteven’s working age Council tenants currently getting Housing Benefit to let them know about the forthcoming ‘bedroom tax’. This change does not affect pensioner tenants.
The changes to Housing Benefit are part of the Government’s Welfare Reform programme. Click here for information about the Welfare Reforms and to access a calculator.
Based on our current working age housing benefit caseload for council tenants we have found
- 75 tenants have two or more spare bedrooms
- 412 tenants have one spare bedroom
- 350 tenants do not have a spare bedroom
Housing Benefit will be cut as follows from April 2013
- 25% for having two or more spare bedrooms (this will average about £18 a week)
- 14% cut for having one spare bedroom (this will average about £10 a week)
The actual amount will depend on the actual level of your council rent. If Housing Benefit is less than the amount of the cut then Housing Benefit will stop.
The letters sent to those Council tenants affected by this change show who we know lives in their home at the moment. If the information has changed they need to let us know straightaway.
- Write to us at Benefits Service, North Kesteven District Council, Kesteven Street, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 7EF
- Email us at benefits@n-kesteven.gov.uk.
- Phone us on 01529 414155
If you are affected what can you do?
Pay the rent that will be due to be paid (if you want some help preparing a budget our Money Advice service can help).
Move to an appropriately-sized property. You can register for an exchange at www.homeswapper.co.uk or contact your Housing Officer or our Housing Needs Section for further advice.
Seek employment or increase your earnings or other income. Jobcentre Plus can help you find work.
Take in a lodger and let us know they have moved in. You should discuss this with the Council’s Benefit Service before it happens as it can affect the amount of benefit you get.
Local Advice surgeries
We are aware that you might want some advice and information so we have arranged some local advice surgeries where there will be staff available from the Council to answer your questions and discuss your personal situation.
Staff from the Benefits Service, Housing Options Team and Housing Officers will be available at the following locations. Please drop in to see them.
Metheringham INFO-LINKS Office, 15A High Street, LN4 3DZ
Tuesday 20th November – 2pm until 5.30pm
The Ark, Moor Lane, North Hykeham LN6 9AB
Wednesday 21st November – 2pm until 5.30pm
The Source Multi Use Centre, Riverside Church, Southgate, Sleaford NG34 7RY
Thursday 22nd November – 2pm until 5.30pm
Bedroom data is being collected from all the other Housing Association, registered social landlords and other voluntary sector housing providers in North Kesteven and letters will be sent to those working age tenants currently getting Housing Benefit shortly to let them know if the change affects them.
