What you need to know about benefit changes
12 June 2012 - need to know about benefit changesThe Government is reducing the amount of housing benefit some people can claim. If you claim housing benefit to help pay your rent you may be affected by changes from April 2013. The changes mean that some people will get less housing benefit than they did before.
We know that many of you will be worried about what this could mean for you and your family. The National Housing Federation has produced a leaflet that has information to help you find out what’s happening and what you can do to prepare. You can download it from the link below. If you need any help or want advice about the changes, please contact your Financial Inclusion team on 01772 450600.
What are the changes?
Changes that will come into affect from next year include a reduction in housing benefit for underoccupied properties, caps on benefit entitlement and changes to council tax benefit
Claims will need to be made online, which means that you will need to
have access to the internet, manage the change a monthly budget and any income gaps whilst the change takes place, a bank account that enables direct debit payments, and maintain your own rent payments. Our Financial Inclusion team can help you with the impact of any changes on your income, managing the new system for claiming benefits and any other financial issues. #
Help on benefit changes
