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You are here : Home > Benefits > General Information > What's new?
What's new?
Changes to Housing Benefits from April 2013
If you're aged between 16 - 61 and live in a housing association property you may receive less benefit from April 2013. More information regarding these changes can be found in our Housing Benefit changes - April 2013 leaflet.Changes to Housing Benefit from January 2013 for those in receipt of Local Housing Allowance
The Government plans to uprate Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation, instead of being set every month in line with the local rental growth.
Annual uprating of the LHA rate every April will make it easier for claimants to plan for the future as they will know their maximum amount of Housing Benefit available for the year ahead.
- If your current LHA anniversary falls between 1st January 2013 and 31st March 2013 the LHA rate used to calculate entitlement to Housing Benefit will not be uprated until 1st April 2013.
- If your current LHA anniversary falls between 1st April 2013 and 31st December 2013 the LHA rate used to calculate entitlement to Housing Benefit will be uprated on 1st April 2013.
All LHA rates will then be reviewed every April each year. We will be writing to customers affected nearer the time to confirm their new benefit entitlement.
The table below shows the new LHA rates that will apply from April 2013 depending on what Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA) you live in.
| BRMA | Shared Room | 1 Bed | 2 Bed | 3 Bed | 4 Bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Norfolk & Norwich | £58.50 | £91.15 | £114.23 | £132.69 | £183.46 |
| Kings Lynn | £51.10 | £88.85 | £110.00 | £126.92 | £165.09 |
| Lowestoft & Great Yarmouth | £68.50 | £85.00 | £103.85 | £115.38 | £147.40 |
Non dependant deductions will increase from April 2012
The amount deducted from weekly Housing and/or Council Tax benefit awards for each non dependant in a household will be increasing, the new deduction rates will automatically be applied to any benefit you are awarded from April 2012.
The table below shows the new weekly non dependant deductions rates that will apply from April 2012.
| Description of the non dependant | Council Tax benefit deduction | Housing benefit deduction |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 18 or over and not in remunerative work: | £3.30 | £11.45 |
| Aged 18 or over and in remunerative work: | ||
| - gross income: less than £124.00 | £3.30 | £11.45 |
| - gross income: £124 to £182.99 | £3.30 | £26.25 |
| - gross income: £183 to £237.99 | £6.55 | £36.10 |
| - gross income: £238 to £315.99 | £6.55 | £59.05 |
| - gross income: £316 to £393.99 | £8.25 | £67.25 |
| - gross income: over £394 | £9.90 | £73.85 |
| Aged 18 – 25 receiving IS, JSA(IB) or ESA(IR) assessment phase | No deduction | No deduction |
| Aged 25 or over receiving ESA (IR) assessment phase | No deduction | No deduction |
| Aged 18 – 25 receiving ESA (IR) main phase | No deduction | £11.45 |
| Aged 25 or over receiving IS, JSA(IB), ESA(IR) main phase | No deduction | £11.45 |
Changes for single people aged under 35 from January 2012
Single people under the age of 25 living in accommodation that they rent from a private landlord have their Housing Benefit calculated on the shared accommodation rate.From 1 January 2012 this will be extended to people aged under 35, as a result, single people aged under 35 will no longer receive Housing Benefit based on one bedroom self-contained accommodation.
More information regarding these changes, including how it will affect existing claimants aged 25 to 34 can be found in our Changes for people aged under 35 leaflet.
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) changes from April 2011
There have been several changes made to the Local Housing Allowance rules including:- The maximum £15.00 weekly Housing Benefit excess will end, this means your Housing Benefit will never exceed your rental charge
- Local Housing Allowance will be restricted to a maximum 4 bedroom rate
- You may be allowed an extra bedroom for a non-resident overnight carer
A transitional protection period may apply to some claimants who are affected by the new LHA changes, more information regarding the new LHA changes and how they affect you can be found on the GOV.UK website.
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