Bedroom Tax

Sparkleon

Hello, 

Hoping someone can help me with some advice please. 5 years ago, I moved from a 2-bed to a 3-bed with medical evidence. I still have the letter I used for medical evidence, and I have the proof of letter I received from my local housing to say that I was entitled to the 3 bed. This April, my rent changed so I rang to confirm. The lady had told me, I was being charged bedroom tax because I am living in a house with 3 rooms when I am entitled to 2. I said no, I'm entitled to 3. I would never have been able to move otherwise. She said "well it says here you're only entitled to 2 so we have been charging your account bedroom tax since you moved in". For 5 years, I have been paying more rent when I didnt need too. She rushed me off the phone and iv not been able to get in touch with anyone since. I can't get through on the phones and they don't reply to my emails. 

Does anyone have any advice on what I can do? Ideally I'd like that money back, or at least reimbursed back on to my rent account, especially as I received a letter telling me that they have overpaid me by £6! Haha

Thank you

calcotti

How many people are living in the house and what are their relationships? On what basis were you told you had a three bed entitlement? If you still have the letter from the benefit agency concerned saying you have a three bedroom entitlement you surely just need to write back to them with a copy of the letter. (I assume this is Housing Benefit - you don't actually say.)

Sparkleon

calcotti said:

How many people are living in the house and what are their relationships? On what basis were you told you had a three bed entitlement? If you still have the letter from the benefit agency concerned saying you have a three bedroom entitlement you surely just need to write back to them with a copy of the letter. (I assume this is Housing Benefit - you don't actually say.)

3 people in the house1 adult, 2 children. 1 of my children is disabled so we are entitled to the extra bedroom. On the basis of urgent medical needs at the time. I've tried to get in touch with them but not having much luck..

And yes it's housing benefit  

Thank you

Alice_Holt

What is the age of the children, now ?

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/how_many_bedrooms_you_can_claim_benefits_for


If your HB dept are not replying to your emails, you may wish to ask your ward councillor for help to resolve the issue.

I would suggest that before doing so, you are very clear on the situation, your HB entitlement,  and what you want your HB dept to do.

In addition to any advice you get on here, it may be worth contacting your local advice agency and copying them with the paperwork and full details, or looking carefully through the Shelter site info.

calcotti

If you have a letter from them saying you are entitled to three bedrooms then it seems straightforward that that is what they should be paying. I agree with Alice, if they are not responding, involve your councillor.

To be clear, you refer to bedroom tax which would apply if you are in social housing. Are you in social housing? The difference would be whether or not you are expected to pay 14% of the rent yourself and I would be puzzled as to how you could have gone 5 years without realising that your full rent was not covered.

Or are you renting privately, in which case the LHA applies and the maximum help depends on your bedroom entitlement (this is not the bedroom tax).

Sparkleon

It's a council house. My children are 14 and 11 currently. My rent was more when I first moved in and I just thought it was because it was a bigger house than my old one. I didn't think it was because they were charging me bedroom tax. 

Thanks for your help, I'll give them another couple days and if I havent heard anything by the end of the week then I will get in touch with my local councillor. It's election season so they might make more of an effort.

NedS

Sparkleon said:

It's a council house. My children are 14 and 11 currently.

Presumably the two children are of the same sex?

Sparkleon

NedS said:

Sparkleon said:

It's a council house. My children are 14 and 11 currently.

Presumably the two children are of the same sex?

Yes. 1 is disabled and needs the extra room. 

sheramber

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/how-an-extra-bedroom-affects-your-housing-benefit/check-if-youre-allowed-an-extra-bedroom-for-housing-benefit/

If you have a disabled child

You're allowed an extra bedroom if your child is disabled and can't share a bedroom with another child because of their disability. You're also allowed an extra bedroom if your child is disabled and needs regular overnight care from a carer who doesn't live with you. You must meet the following conditions:

• your disabled child must be entitled to the middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance
• your local council must accept that your child’s disability means they can’t share a bedroom with another child

If your local council decide to reduce your Housing Benefit because they think you have too many bedrooms, you can use a template letter from the charity Contact to explain why your disabled child needs a separate bedroom. You can download the letter on ‘Challenging bedroom tax decisions’ from the Contact website or call them on freephone 0808 808 3555.

tboo

You said you moved to a 3 bedroom on the basis of medical evidence.

Was the housing department aware of this to offer the bigger property in the 1st place?

Did you show this medical letter to the HB department?

As they will have needed this to make a determination to change the room criteria and alter the claim.

Sparkleon said:

Hello, 

Hoping someone can help me with some advice please. 5 years ago, I moved from a 2-bed to a 3-bed with medical evidence. I still have the letter I used for medical evidence, and I have the proof of letter I received from my local housing to say that I was entitled to the 3 bed. This April, my rent changed so I rang to confirm. The lady had told me, I was being charged bedroom tax because I am living in a house with 3 rooms when I am entitled to 2. I said no, I'm entitled to 3. I would never have been able to move otherwise. She said "well it says here you're only entitled to 2 so we have been charging your account bedroom tax since you moved in". For 5 years, I have been paying more rent when I didnt need too. She rushed me off the phone and iv not been able to get in touch with anyone since. I can't get through on the phones and they don't reply to my emails. 

Does anyone have any advice on what I can do? Ideally I'd like that money back, or at least reimbursed back on to my rent account, especially as I received a letter telling me that they have overpaid me by £6! Haha

Thank you

calcotti

tboo said:

You said you moved to a 3 bedroom on the basis of medical evidence.

Was the housing department aware of this to offer the bigger property in the 1st place?

OP said

Sparkleon said:..d I have the proof of letter I received from my local housing to say that I was entitled to the 3 bed. 

As I understand it OP was advised he would qualify for HB for a three bedroom property but HB have since failed to apply their own advice and have instead applied the bedroom tax.