‘Bedroom Tax’ explained

In October Stratford-on-Avon District Council wrote to all those residents in the District that would be affected by the changes, informing them by how much they can expect their housing benefit to reduce by from April.

The Spare Room Deduction, also known as the Bedroom Tax is part of the Government's wider national welfare reforms, applying to people of working age, who rent their home from a Housing Association such as Orbit Heart of England or Bromford Group. 

This does not apply to those who own their own home and theDistrict Council would like to reassure residents that unless they have been written to, this will not affect them.

Under the new scheme, resident's Government Housing Benefit will be cut if they are considered, by the Government, to live in a home that has more bedrooms than they and their family need.

Pensioners will be exempt from any changes as will tenants who live in properties where the landlord is also the provider of care, support or supervision.

The criteria for how many bedrooms a family requires are set by the Department for Work and Pensions. Under the scheme, one bedroom is allowed for:

• Each adult couple
• Other adult(s) aged 16 or over
• Two children of the same sex aged under 16.
• Two children aged under 10
• Any other child
• A carer or (or team of carers) who do not live with the family but provide overnight care.

If, using these criteria, a family has more bedrooms than they need, then their Government Housing Benefit will be reduced by 14% if there is one extra bedroom and 25% if the person has two or more extra bedrooms.

The District Council says that around 840 homes of working age people on Government Housing Benefit will see their payments cut when the Bedroom Tax comes into force on 1 April 2013.

Anyone contacted by the District Council is asked to check that the information about their home and family details are correct and to highlight any personal circumstances that may make it difficult for them to move to a smaller property, such as foster carers or properties with adaptations because of a disability.

Anyone wishing to discuss how they will be affected by this change should contact their Housing Association for advice and to discuss options.