Housing Benefit Changes means underoccupation??

BigAunty

chelle_bell wrote: »

This is effecting me too.

I live in a 3 bedroom private let, me, baby boy (1) girl (8) I get a small amount of housing benefit because i'm employed. I only get housing benefit for 2 bedrooms yet, i'm still getting this "tax" how can they give me HB for 2 bedrooms then tax me on having 3. Raging isn't the word.

You are comparing apples with pears.

The legislation that comes in this April applies to Social Housing tenants who have been immune to HB changes for decades and have always been able to get full HB even if they have 1, 2, 3, 4 spare bedrooms.

However, since the inception of the Local Housing Allowance in the private sector, it's always been up to the tenant to live in any size or any cost of property they wish, but only get the LHA rate for their household. LHA claimants have always had to make up the difference from their other income, employment or benefits.

You had the choice to live in a property that corresponds with your LHA rate whereas social housing tenants were often allocated their properties years ago, and may have had spare room at the start.

In fact, many private tenants are very happy that social housing will have parity with them - they cannot live in properties larger than their needs if they are reliant on HB and they are glad that social housing tenants have the same rules applied.

Morlock

BigAunty wrote: »

...social housing tenants have the same rules applied.

But social tenants cannot claim the same higher rates of LHA as private tenants, so are in effect costing a lot less than their LHA entitlement would otherwise be. Particularly the majority being affected, who have one spare room.

Allowing social housing tenants to claim the same LHA rates as private tenants would mean that the same rules apply.

Heycock

Of course, as the aim of the changes is ostensibly to free up under-occupied social sector housing for people who actually NEED the rooms, it would seem logical that if people on benefits have to make a contribution via a reduction in benefit (which by no definition can be considered a tax), then social housing occupants not on benefits should be similarly penalised by paying additional rent.
It might even help to bring social rents into line with private sector. But still with the security of tenure denied to the private sector...for some of us the most important factor.

stiltwalker

Morlock wrote: »

But social tenants cannot claim the same higher rates of LHA as private tenants, so are in effect costing a lot less than their LHA entitlement would otherwise be. Particularly the majority being affected, who have one spare room.

Allowing social housing tenants to claim the same LHA rates as private tenants would mean that the same rules apply.

They don't need to as their rents are not anywhere near as high to begin with!!!! The advantage of this to them being that if they gain employment/better paid employment and end up paying their own full rent then they will still be better off. Add this to the secure tenancy social housing provides,and yes I know this is due to change somewhat but it's still better than 6 months and then being able to be served a S21 for no reason whatsoever and having to find a new bond and moving costs all over again.

*LittleStar*

DaisyFlower wrote: »

Given your children aren't babies nor teens, childcare should be readily available so you could work and cover the rent yourself.

The childs father/s may want to assist although a bedroom each is a luxury and not needed.

Failing that, you could try for a swap which you are likely to get or rent a two bedroomed place privately.

I cant ask there father as was in DV situation and was in refuge so not a situation i want to aggrevate. Also I have bad Mental Health probs myself i get support with home care from Local Social Services but do not get DLA for myself (local authority have someone helping with my case to fight at tribunal but next month its been a whole year :-\ so neither working at thos moment in time or asking there Dad is of any help for me unfortunately.

And the boys having a bedroom each is a necessity with the individual problems they BOTH have not a luxary for example i recently had the littlests room decorated by a few mates so they had to share bedroom for a week and school contacted Social Services about my eldest nearly falling sleep in class and being extremly tierd that then also had an impact on his skin condition then meaning he was also waking with irritation and discomfort so it really is a a catch 22 situation :-( :(

*LittleStar*

Poppie68 wrote: »

To claim DLA for a 3 and a half year old you would have to provide proof he needs more care ie: washing, dressing, feeding and bodily functions than any other 'normal' child his age. You will need evidence from any healthcare professionals etc that you have sort help from and he would of had to have had these problems for a least 3 months and that they are ongoing.
You need to gather all medical letters etc and get help in completing the forms because they can be complicated.

I will defintely be looking into it for my little one he has a behaviour specialis, SENCO (special educational needs worker) and speech threapist, and Social Worker aswell as doctor Health visitor and the usual but i thought they had to have a diagnoses first so thanks will try se:Ae where i can get some more advice to complete forms. He started showing o more obvious problems at abot 18 months old

*LittleStar*

:shocked:

justlooking2012 wrote: »

Welcome to the real world, I would love to be able to buy a four bedroomed house but I currently only own a 3 bedroomed one. If my situation was to change I may have to sell up and downsize to a 2 bedroom and then my sons would have to share.

I am well aware of the real world! I came from a middle class family and went to a private school and had many luxeries for reasons im not going into my family lost everything. So hope your circumstances dont change dramatically like mine did, and end up in a situation like mine with the situations and health problems we have to face on a daily basis and if my boys didnt have the problems they both individually have I would not have a problem with them sharing :-\ I hope you can afford to make up the shortfall yourself and not loose everything like my family and thousands of others have if you get into difficulties or you may have to face the 'real world'

*LittleStar*

bestpud wrote: »

Could you downsize and sleep downstairs on a sofa bed yourself, so the boys still get a room?

Alternatively, use the DLA you receive for your son, as it's an extra cost associated with his disability.

He only gets Lower rate care and all his extra costs from his disability are not even covered with that money :-( I have mental health probs dont get DLA but local council provides some support with a career few hours a week but i also have family/friends providing unpaid care and support also overnight prob averaging 2/3 times a week so they on sofa when they help out already but maybe an option for others in same circumstance with children but not own health

Morlock

Heycock wrote: »

Of course, as the aim of the changes is ostensibly to free up under-occupied social sector housing for people who actually NEED the rooms...

The majority of under-occupying, social housing tenants, OAPs and those not claiming housing benefit, remain unaffected by the bedroom tax. The minority of under-occupiers in the social housing sector are of working age and claiming housing benefit, they will be the most affected.

It is difficult to agree that the main aim is to free up under-occupied, social housing, when the majority who are under-occupying continue to live in those properties with no penalty.

There is a good argument that tenants are rattling around alone in three-bedroom properties, but they are a minority. 81% of those facing a reduction in housing benefit under-occupy by only one room. And that is the key factor, they are housing benefit claimants.

It is a direct reduction in supplements for working age, social housing benefit claimants, not a scheme to reduce under-occupancy in social housing.

bloolagoon

*LittleStar* wrote: »

He only gets Lower rate care and all his extra costs from his disability are not even covered with that money :-( I have mental health probs dont get DLA but local council provides some support with a career few hours a week but i also have family/friends providing unpaid care and support also overnight prob averaging 2/3 times a week so they on sofa when they help out already but maybe an option for others in same circumstance with children but not own health

Sorry so you do or don't claim DLA for your child or children? It's rather confusing as people were helping then you said you get lower rate.