Changes to Housing Benefit

Getting Housing Advice now that Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance is Changing

Changes to housing benefit entitlement coming in from April 2011 may affect the amount of help you will get with paying your rent.  You should have received notification of these changes from the housing benefit department, but if you do not understand how the changes affect you or you require more detailed information please contact Bromsgrove District Council.

f your entitlement to housing benefit or local housing allowance has reduced you may find it more difficult to manage your household expenses.

This leaflet includes some options and advice which you may find useful.

Staying Put

1. Consider whether you can make savings elsewhere in your household budget so that you are able to pay any shortfall in your rent.
2. Look up the Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance rates for your family size on Bromsgrove District Council’s website to see how you may be affected
3. Speak to your landlord about how these changes will affect you.  If you have been a good tenant, they may agree to lower the rent.
4. You may not be getting all the benefits and tax credits that you are entitled to, for advice you can go to Bromsgrove and District Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Department of Work and Pensions ( DWP ) and Her Majesty Revenues and Customs (HMRC).
5. If you have a spare room, you may want to consider whether you could take in a lodger.  You will need to take advice from the Bromsgrove and District Citizens Advice Bureau ( CAB ) before proceeding.
6. If you have any other adults living with you, ask whether they can contribute more to the household costs.
7. Apply for Discretionary Housing Payments on Bromsgrove District Council’s website or through the ( CAB ), which may help towards the shortfall in rent for a short period of time.

Moving On

1. Look in the local paper and letting agencies to find properties that will be more affordable for you.
2. Plan out how much moving will cost and whether you will need to hire a van or pay for a removal company.  If you are in receipt of means tested benefits you may be able to apply for a budgeting loan from Jobcentre Plus.
3. You could apply for assistance in finding suitable private rented accommodation through Bromsgrove District Council’s Step Up Private Tenancy Scheme or Basement’s Private Tenancy Scheme (PTS) Scheme for under 25s.

Affordable Housing is scarce in Bromsgrove so ACT NOW!!

For further advice and assistance on your housing options please contact:

Bromsgrove District Housing Trust
Buntsford Court
Buntsford Gate
Bromsgrove
B60 3DJ

01527 557557

of Freephone from landline 0800 0850 160

For further advice and assistance on financial management please contact:

Citizens Advice Bureau
50-52 Birmingham Road
Bromsgrove
B61 0DD

01527 557397

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/

Useful Contacts

Bromsgrove District Council

The Dolphin Centre
School Drive
Bromsgrove
Worcestershire
B60 1AY

01527 881288

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

Basement PTS Scheme under 25s

New Road Baptist Church
New Road
Bromsgrove
B60 2JS

01527 832993

National Debt Line

0808 808 4000

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/

Other useful websites

+http://www.dwp.co.uk

+http://www.direct.gov.uk

+http://www.hmrc.gov.uk