What does this mean to me?
Q: Will my benefit be affected by the bedroom tax?
A: The bedroom tax will apply if you: Claim housing benefit, are of working age, live in a property considered too large for your needs.
The bedroom tax will not apply if you and your partner receive pension credits. In April 2013 the pension credit age will be around 61 years and six months.
Q: What happens if I have a spare bedroom?
A: If you have one ‘spare’ bedroom your housing benefit will be cut by 14 per cent. If you have two or more spare bedrooms it will be cut by 25 per cent.
If your benefit is cut you will have to pay your landlord the difference between your housing benefit and your rent.
Q: What is a spare bedroom? A: Under the new rules you will be allocated one bedroom for: • each adult couple • any other person aged 16 or over • two children of the same sex under 16 • two children under the age of 10 regardless of their sex
• a carer who does not normally live with you if you need overnight care.
Exceptions will not be made if: • you and your partner need to sleep apart because of a medical condition
• the main residence of your children is another address, but you have a spare room for when they stay with you.
Spare room gloom
An example of how bedroom tax works
Mr and Mrs Bridges live in a two bedroom house costing £70 a week in rent. At the moment housing benefit covers the full cost of their rent. Under the new rules they will have one spare bedroom.
Their housing benefit will be reduced by 14 per cent of their rent – which equals £9.80. Their housing benefits will be reduced by £9.80 to £60.20 per week. They will have to pay £9.80 per week towards their rent.
Not your room kid – under the new rules children who live elsewhere won’t be able to keep their ‘old room’ at a parent’s home. So if you need a spare room because you’re a foster parent, or your adult child returns on leave from serving in the armed forces, or if your child usually lives at another address – it will cost you. This will also apply if you or your partner or child has a disability and you need a room for medical equipment or respite care
25 uniteWORKS March/April 2013
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