Housing benefit reduction and the forces.

iluvmarmite

Asking on behalf of a mother who is fighting for exemption as her son is a serving soldier whose residence is his family home and according to government legislation she is now exempt from the reduction but no matter how many articles she shows her local authority they still won't exempt her. Are there any families on here who have become exempt due to having a child in the forces? So far she hasnt been able to find a forces family this has happened to and it would be helpful to her if she could find someone.

Mojisola

https://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn06272.pdf

Page 19 - On 12 March 2013 the Secretary of State made the following announcement in respect of armed forces personnel:
Adult children who are in the Armed Forces but who continue to live with parents will be treated as continuing to live at home, even when deployed on operations. This means that the size criteria rules will not be applied to the room normally occupied by the member of the Armed Forces if they intend to return home. In addition Housing Benefit recipients will not be subject to a non-dependent deduction, i.e. the amount that those who are working are expected to contribute to the household expenses, until an adult child returns home.
The intent of the policy was that by using Discretionary Housing Payments, the estimated 5,000 foster carers and rather fewer Armed Forces personnel groups would be protected. We have agreed with local authority organisations improved arrangements through these regulations that puts these protections beyond doubt.
The changes will apply to tenants in both the social and private rented sectors