Age for siblings sharing is changing?

Dinney

Went to housing department today to enquire about the so called bedroom tax,was told that some time after April that the age that siblings sharing a bedroom regardless of what sex they are is to increase to 13 years ,goal posts moved again

BigAunty

I wasn't aware of this at all - anyone else got info on this, a confirmed link or something?

tanyamumof3

I would be interested to hear more info on this

Upsidedown_Bear

Found these:

http://www.housing.org.uk/policy/welfare_reform/%e2%80%98under-occupation%e2%80%99_penalty.aspx

http://www.aragon-housing.co.uk/need-support/benefit-reform/bedroom-tax/

ETA

Info below from:
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/housing_costs/housing_benefit_e,_s,_w.aspx#changes

"Changes to housing benefit for social tenants from April 2013

From April 2013, if you rent your home from a social housing landlord (also referred to as a public sector landlord), such the council or a housing association, and you are of working age, your Housing Benefit may be cut if it's considered you have more bedrooms than you actually need.
For example, if your children have grown up and left home and you now have a spare bedroom.
If your home is considered to be too big for you, your Housing Benefit will be cut by:

• 14% of your rent if you have one spare bedroom
• 25% of your rent if you have two or more spare bedrooms.

You are allowed one bedroom for each category shown below:

• each adult couple
• each person over 16
• two children of the same sex under 16
• two children under 10, regardless of their sex
• any other child
• an overnight carer you need but who doesn't normally live with you."

iluvmarmite

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

Found these:

http://www.housing.org.uk/policy/welfare_reform/%e2%80%98under-occupation%e2%80%99_penalty.aspx

http://www.aragon-housing.co.uk/need-support/benefit-reform/bedroom-tax/

Beat me to it I was gonna use those lol, it does say children under 10 are expected to share if they are different sex, so I assume if one is 10 and one is 11 they need separate rooms

Upsidedown_Bear

iluvmarmite wrote: »

Beat me to it I was gonna use those lol, it does say children under 10 are expected to share if they are different sex, so I assume if one is 10 and one is 11 they need separate rooms

Yes, if they are different sexes they would need seperate rooms.

seven-day-weekend

Why shouldn't they share if they are the same gender? I shared with my sister until she got married when she was 24 and I was eight! I'm not saying that is ideal, but it isn't going to do anyone any harm..

Tiddlywinks

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Why shouldn't they share if they are the same gender? I shared with my sister until she got married when she was 24 and I was eight! I'm not saying that is ideal, but it isn't going to do anyone any harm..

^^^ This!

Look - if anyone wants more bedrooms then they can always pay for it themselves... otherwise, the family shares... or (and this is groundbreaking) people stop having children they cannot easily provide for.

Too much sense of entitlement rather than a bit of gratitude for a roof over their heads.

nottslass_2

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

^^^ This!

Look - if anyone wants more bedrooms then they can always pay for it themselves... otherwise, the family shares... or (and this is groundbreaking) people stop having children they cannot easily provide for.

Too much sense of entitlement rather than a bit of gratitude for a roof over their heads.

All well and good Tiddlywinks,But what do you suppose one is supposed to do if you've already got children ?

In this economic climate people live with the prospect of being made redundant,thus forcing them to claim HB. Its not that easy to simply Up and move to a smaller house,change kids schools etc for what will hopefully be a temporary change in circumstances
.
Many of those that will face hardship under these rules will be decent hard working people and not "professional long term claimants" making a life style choice !

dibuzz

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Why shouldn't they share if they are the same gender? I shared with my sister until she got married when she was 24 and I was eight! I'm not saying that is ideal, but it isn't going to do anyone any harm..

My 3 boys shared a room for 16 years until son no 2 moved out a year ago, they are 17,22 and 24

seven-day-weekend

dibuzz wrote: »

My 3 boys shared a room for 16 years until son no 2 moved out a year ago, they are 17,22 and 24

Yes, my three nephews shared until they moved out, one by one.

Obviously, ideally, everyone would like their own room but if they have to share it is not the end of the world!

I think though the OP might be saying that she thought she needed the size of house she was in, but now finds she doesn't, under the regulations, and will have to pay some of their rent themselves because they are classed as having a room they don't need.