Social Sector Size Criteria

What are the changes?

There are size limit rules into Housing Benefit for working age people renting from a registered housing association or other registered social landlord.

This restricts the size of accommodation you can receive Housing Benefit for based on the number of people in your household.

The new rules allow one bedroom for:

- every adult couple (married or unmarried)

- any other adult aged 16 or over

- any two children of the same sex aged under 16

- any two children aged under 10

- any other child, (other than a foster child or child whose main home is elsewhere)

- a carer (or team of carers) who do not live with you but provide you or your partner with overnight care

Sonia would therefore not see any reduction in her Housing Benefit.

If you are thinking of moving you need to consider these changes before renewing or making a new tenancy agreement.

Examples;

Average rents charged by social landlords in this area:

Under the size criteria rules Gill and Mark would be under-occupying by 2 bedrooms. Their housing benefit would be calculated using a rent figure reduced by 25%. Based on the reduced rent figure of £73.66 they would be entitled to housing benefit of £11.11 per week.

WHAT OPTIONS DO PEOPLE HAVE?

If someone is assessed as under-occupying their accommodation and experience a reduction in Housing Benefit, there are a number of courses of action open to them. They may wish to find more appropriately sized accommodation or stay where they are and make up the shortfall in rent themselves.

Move- Someone may decide that it would be sensible to move to appropriately sized accommodation in the social rented sector. Their landlord will be able to talk this through with them and advise them as to whether this is a viable option.

They may decide that moving to the private rented sector would be appropriate. Again their landlord or the Council will be able to advise them about this.

Ask non dependants to contribute- If someone decides to stay in their current accommodation and make up the shortfall in rent themselves they may wish to ask other non dependants living with them to contribute to the additional rent.

Take in a lodger - Taking in a lodger to fill an extra bedroom may be a good option for some claimants. The lodger would be assessed as part of the household, meaning they would not necessarily be considered to be under-occupying and may have more income due to the extra rent. The first £20 of weekly income from a lodger is ignored and won't affect your benefits. If you receive more than £20 a week in rent, the extra cash is likely to affect your benefits. General guide to letting a room available at: Gov.uk

Increase hours of work- If a claimant is in employment they may consider increasing their working hours if possible to make up the shortfall in rent. Contact the Benefits Team or use the benefits calculator to check the effect this may have on your housing benefit entitlement.

Move into work- If a claimant is not currently in employment, finding a job could help them pay the additional rent. Contact the Benefits Team or use the benefits calculator. to check the effect this may have on your housing benefit entitlement.

Reduce your outgoings- The Citizens advice service and Shelter may be able to help you find ways to reduce your expenses, please use the contact details below.

Apply for a DHP - In certain circumstances a claimant may be entitled to a payment from the Discretionary Housing Payment Fund. This is a fund administered by the Council for those they consider in real need of additional help with their housing costs.