Telford & Wrekin Council to contact households affected by ‘Bedroom Tax'
Telford & Wrekin Council is this week contacting households 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 Government’s wider national welfare reforms, applying to people of working age, who rent their home from a Housing Association such as The Wrekin Housing Trust, Bromford or Bournville Village Trust.
Under the new scheme, people’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 is 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’s one extra bedroom - 25% if the person has two or more extra bedrooms.
The Council says that around 2,500 homes or 47% of working age people on Government Housing Benefit will see their payments cut when the Bedroom Tax comes into force.
Cllr Bill McClements, cabinet member for resources, said: “This is another blow to many people in the borough on the lowest incomes. Once again councils are being left to implement the Government’s dirty work.
“When opportunities for extra work and income are limited because of the recession, I am sure we’ll see people forced out of family homes they have lived in for a long time because of this change.
“For many people of working age, when taken together with cuts in council tax benefits, it will mean a double blow and I am sure people will struggle to make ends meet.”
Anyone contacted by the 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.
