Benefits - what's new

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit - what's new

Changes to the Local Housing Allowance

Following the government's spending review in the autumn a number of changes are due to take effect from April 2011

Removal of the "excess payment"

If your rent is below the local housing allowance rate for the number of bedrooms you are entitled to, your benefit may currently include an "excess payment" amount of up to a maximum of £15.00. This "top up" is being removed from April 2011. This will apply immediately to any new claims and claims for a new address, after 01 April 2011.
For existing customers the top up will end from your anniversary date.
 

Calculation of LHA rates

The way local housing allowance rates are calculated is changing resulting in a decrease in the rates.
This will affect all new claims and claims for a new address after 01 April 2011.
For existing customers the decrease will not apply until your anniversary date. You will then receive up to 9 months transitional protection from this date meaning your award will continue to be based on either your current rent or your current LHA rate, whichever is less.
 

Capping of 5 bedroom LHA rates

The maximum rate of LHA will be set at the 4 bedroom rate from April for all new claims.
For existing customers receiving the 5 bedroom LHA rate your claim be affected from your anniversary date, but you will receive 9 months transitional protection from this date.
 

Your anniversary date is the date that your housing benefit is reviewed each year. This could be around the date you last applied for benefit, changed address, or had a change in the number of people in your household.

Additional room for an over-night carer

• Do you currently receive housing benefit?

• Do you require an extra room for an overnight carer?

• Are you currently in receipt of attendance allowance or disability living allowance care component at the middle or high rate?
  
  If you can answer yes to all three of the above questions then you may be entitled to extra housing benefit. Please contact the benefits team as soon as possible, so that we can determine if you are entitled to extra help. You can contact us:

• by telephone or email using the contact details at the bottom of the page or

• in person at Lancaster or Morecambe Town Hall from 9.00am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday or

• by writing to us at this address:
  Revenues Services
  PO Box 4
  Lancaster
  LA1 1QR

From April 2013

• Local Housing Allowance rates will be increased by the consumer price index.
• Housing benefit claimants in council houses and housing association properties may find their benefit restricted if they have more bedrooms than the law says they need.  This will only affect those of working age.

The benefits of working

Going back to work doesn't mean giving up all your benefits.   Housing benefit and / or council tax benefit, as well as other benefits, are still available for those who go back to work and remain in work.  Almost everyone can be better off in work.   

"In and out of work" is a joined up service offered by the Department for Work and Pensions that helps customers access their benefits and credits more easily as they move into and out of work.

For more information please click on the "Benefits Adviser" link on the useful websites list at the right hand side of this page.

Did you know?

• That we do not count child maintenance or child benefit when we are working out housing benefit and council tax benefit awards?
   
• That you can claim housing benefit and council tax benefit if you are working and on a low wage?

MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE CLAIMING THE BENEFITS THAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO

You can contact the Benefits Team in any of the following ways:

By writing to: The Benefits Team, P O Box 4, Lancaster, LA1 1QR

By telephoning: (01524) 582965 between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday

By visiting: The Customer Service Centres at Lancaster or Morecambe Town Halls between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Customers with hearing difficulties who have a minicom machine can contact the benefits team through Typetalk on 18001 01524 582965