Latest news and information concerning council tax and housing benefit.
On the 5th July 2017 Dudley Borough became a full service Universal credit area. That means that most working age customers will need to make a claim for their housing costs through Universal credit.
Do you or your partner have a carer who stays overnight in your home to help care for a disabled child or another adult who lives with you who is disabled?
Is the overnight care provided by a carer who doesn’t live in your home?
Do you actually have a spare bedroom that your carer uses overnight?
If the answer to all these questions is yes, then the help you get with your rent may be able to take account of this.
A bedroom that is used by a carer (or team of carers) who doesn’t actually live in your home but provides overnight care for either a disabled child or a disabled adult who lives with you, can be taken into account when working out how much Housing Benefit to pay.
In some cases, this could result in an increase in Housing Benefit, however all your circumstances would need to be considered to decide whether you can get more money. This will include whether the child or adult who lives with you are entitled to certain disability benefits.
So, if you think that you might be entitled to help with the cost of an additional bedroom that is used by a carer (or team of carers) please speak to an advisor on 0300 5558100.
Are you or your partner unable to share a bedroom because of a disability?
Do you and your partner sleep in separate bedrooms because of this?
If the answer to these questions is yes, then the help you get with your rent may be able to take account of this.
An extra bedroom can be taken into account when working out how much Housing Benefit to pay, if a couple are unable to share a bedroom because of a disability. The local authority must be satisfied that you and your partner cannot reasonably share a bedroom due to your disability and that a spare bedroom is available in the household for that use.
In some cases, this could result in an increase in Housing Benefit, however all your circumstances would need to be considered to decide whether you can get more money. This will include whether you or your partner are entitled to certain disability benefits.
So, if you think that you might be entitled to help with the cost of an additional bedroom as you and your partner are unable to share (due to disability) please speak to an advisor on 0300 5558100.
Your benefit entitlement may change if you have other adults (apart from your partner) living with you.
Deductions can be made from the amount of benefit you get if you share your home with any adults who are not dependant on you - for example, adult children, relatives or friends. These deductions are made because it is assumed that these people should pay something towards your rent, whether they actually do so or not. If you are in this position you may already be aware that these are called non dependant deductions.
The following table non dependant charges for 2019 shows the revised deductions and how your benefit could be affected.
If you are affected by this change you will have to ask the other adults in your home to increase the money they give you or you will have to make up the shortfall from your own income.
Aged under 25 and on IS or JSA(IB) or ESA(IR) which does not include an amount for the support component or work-related activity component - Nil
Aged 25 or over and on IS or JSA(IB), or aged 18 or over and not in remunerative work - £15.95
In receipt of main phase ESA(IR) - £15.95
In receipt of Pension Credit - Nil
Aged 18 or over and in remunerative work
Gross income less than £149 - £15.95
Gross income not less than £149 but less than £216.99 - £36.65
Gross income not less than £217 but less than £282.99 - £50.30
Gross income not less than £283 but less than £376.99 - £82.30
Gross income not less than £377 but less than £468.99 - £93.70
Gross income not less than £469 - £102.85
Under 25 on IS,JSA(IB), ESA(IR) and people in receipt of Pension Credit - Nil
Aged 25 and over in receipt of IS and JSA(IB), in receipt of main phase ESA(IR), aged 18 or over, not in remunerative work - Nil
Gross income less than £217.00 - £4.05
Gross income not less than £217.00 but less than £377.00 - £8.25
Gross income not less than £377.00 but less than £469.00 - £10.35
