Changes To Housing Benefits

[Less]

Originally Posted by harwood red

wonder how many of you know the changes regarding Council tax benefit too???

Please do tell, my Landlord has been good enough to warn me, my Council hasn't.

[Less]

Originally Posted by harwood red

what makes it even worse is that universal credit which will include elements for housing will also be paid monthly (calendar month not four weekly)

Well at least that will fall in line with being able to set up a DD, if I know when it's coming in I can have it paid straight out, though of course I would rather have the miracle of miracles a succesful job interview then this nightmare might end.

[harwood red]

National council tax benefit, which is calculated the same across all councils will come to an end next March and will be changed to a localised council tax allowance. This could be a nightmare and even more so create a postcode lottery as each council can set it's own remit on how it will work!!

Some councils have already announced that regardless of income a minimum of 10% of council tax must be paid by all and the rest will be means tested and an allowance awarded to those towards their council tax!

No noise from Hyndburn on how they are going to manage theirs but I do know that funding from the govt towards this has been cut dramatically

[Less]

Originally Posted by harwood red

National council tax benefit, which is calculated the same across all councils will come to an end next March and will be changed to a localised council tax allowance. This could be a nightmare and even more so create a postcode lottery as each council can set it's own remit on how it will work!!

Some councils have already announced that regardless of income a minimum of 10% of council tax must be paid by all and the rest will be means tested and an allowance awarded to those towards their council tax!

No noise from Hyndburn on how they are going to manage theirs but I do know that funding from the govt towards this has been cut dramatically

So next April all those on benefits with a spare room can expect at least 10% rent increase and the rest 10% Council tax increase on top of that, can they also expect a means by which they will be able to pay this?
I, like the majority want to pay my way, I just wonder how I'll be able to, can't see a large amount of extra staff being needed by the companies struggling to survive at the moment.

[MargaretR]

http://www.communities.gov.uk/docume...f/19510253.pdf

It infers that council tax changes are expected to fall in line with rent rule changes, so if you are a single person with two bedrooms you might lose the 25% discount, (but over pension age people won't).

[harwood red]

It doesn't mean Hyndburn will charge 10%, some councils are sticking to the current method dependant on their budgets of course

[Less]

Originally Posted by Less

So next April all those on benefits with a spare room can expect at least 10% rent increase and the rest 10% Council tax increase on top of that, can they also expect a means by which they will be able to pay this?
I, like the majority want to pay my way, I just wonder how I'll be able to, can't see a large amount of extra staff being needed by the companies struggling to survive at the moment.

Hang on though, maybe my Landlord, the Council and the Bailiffs will be taking on just to sort this out?

[susie123]

Originally Posted by Less

Hang on though, maybe my Landlord, the Council and the Bailiffs will be taking on just to sort this out?

Good point Less, I should put my name down now for an interview if I were you.

[Less]

Originally Posted by susie123

Good point Less, I should put my name down now for an interview if I were you.

WHAaaat? With my bad back? I'd never lift the paperwork!

[MargaretR]

If you don't live in a housing association property, how do they know how many bedrooms you have, and how many are occupied?
.....YOU told them!...remember the census

[Neil]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

If you don't live in a housing association property, how do they know how many bedrooms you have, and how many are occupied?
.....YOU told them!...remember the census

Many of the 2 up 2 downs have been here for over 100 years so I am sure they have had a few happen in that time.

The rateable value was also based on rooms/bedrooms/bathrooms etc so they will still have that information

[MargaretR]

Bathrooms were installed in back bedrooms and not all had a bedroom partitioned off it.

PS not all internal changes were reported to the council - as a child I was aware that my parents didn't.

[Less]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

If you don't live in a housing association property, how do they know how many bedrooms you have, and how many are occupied?
.....YOU told them!...remember the census

If you claim benefits, you have to fill in a form, it asks how many rooms you have including bedrooms.
Of course people will tell them, would be stupid not to, otherwise you wouldn't get a payment.
We are talking about poor people here, a bedroom tax, also if you're claiming and single no longer getting single allowance even though you waste less than a family do.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Less

If you claim benefits, you have to fill in a form, it asks how many rooms you have including bedrooms.
Of course people will tell them, would be stupid not to, otherwise you wouldn't get a payment.
We are talking about poor people here, a bedroom tax, also if you're claiming and single no longer getting single allowance even though you waste less than a family do.

Now you know why they asked, in hindsight do you wish you had lied?

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

If you don't live in a housing association property, how do they know how many bedrooms you have, and how many are occupied?
.....YOU told them!...remember the census

Yes, but that detailed information is sealed for 100 years. We've only had access to the 1911 census for a short time.