January 2012 changes

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Lines open 9am to 5pm - Monday to Friday
Council Tax and Business Rates: 01903 221061
Housing and Council Tax Benefit: 01903 221062

revsbens@worthing.gov.uk

Changes from January 2012

Currently, most single customers aged under 25 have the rent that's used in the assessment of their Housing Benefit entitlement restricted to one bedroom in a shared property.  This means that if they actually live in self-contained accommodation (e.g. a one-bedroom flat) there is likely to be a restriction on the rent used in their Housing Benefit calculation.

From 1 January 2012, this restriction will be applied to most single customers aged under 35.  The change will apply to Housing Benefit claims assessed under the rules for Local Housing Allowance and to those where an individual valuation is provided by The Valuation Office Agency, and will affect claims in the ways shown below.

The existing categories of exemption (customers who are severely disabled, care leavers up to the age of 22, customers with non-dependants and those who require an additional bedroom for an overnight carer) will continue to apply.

There will also be two new categories of exemption for those aged 25 to 34:

1. Former residents of specialist homeless hostels who have spent at least three months in such a hostel but only if the former resident has been offered and accepted support services with the aim of rehabilitating or resettling them in the community.
2. Ex-offenders who are subject to active multi-agency management under the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)

A letter will be sent to all existing customers who will be affected by this change.

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