Housing benefit for 20yr old in social housing?

earthbound_misfit

I'm posting on behalf of a friend who is currently looking for (and is super-duper-top priority for) a council/housing association flat. He is 20.
At present, he is very ill, and is expected to get ESA and DLA (yes I know how hard the process is!) so will be exempt from many changes to housing benefit.
However, we are both aware the system is changing and trying to stay one step ahead of the game, ie. planning what to do if ESA claim has to go to appeal and benefits are reduced in the meantime.
I'm up to scratch with disability benefit changes and local housing allowance for private rentals, but no clue about housing benefit for social properties!
We are concerned that in future when he is looking for work, or on JSA whilst appealing ESA, he won't qualify for any exemptions, so would need to be able to afford the flat on the basic housing benefit for his age.

So...
1) Are there any changes with under 35's in social housing? Ie: could they ask him to move out or cut his housing benefit to a 'single room rate' if he is not receiving disability benefits?

2) I'm aware the usual amount of housing benefit allowed for a property isn't capped if it's a social property, but is this changing? (apart from cap for larger properties). Some of the (council/HA) flats he has seen are higher than the stated amount of housing benefit for a 1-bed flat.

Any advice appreciated

BigAunty

No age related changes for social housing tenants.

i'm not aware of upper caps in social housing - what limits were these council/HA adverts talking about?.

However, unless he will permanently need an overnight carer to visit who lives elsewhere, he'd best avoid a 2 bedroom property as there are plans to reduce HB for tenants with unoccupied bedrooms in social housing. One of the few exemptions are for those with disabilities who need overnight care from a live out carer who can have an extra one without being penalised.