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Under Occupancy WHAT IS THE SOCIAL HOUSING SIZE CRITERIA? You may have heard this being called “bedroom tax” or “under-occupation”. This means any “spare” bedroom in your property. From April 2013, the Government will reduce the amount of housing benefit for working age households if you are considered to have a “spare” bedroom. 1 bedroom spare? 2 or more bedrooms spare? Based on an average 3 bed property Based on an average 3 bed property £12.83 per week will be cut from £22.91 per week will be cut from housing benefit housing benefit How do you know if you have a “spare” bedroom? One bedroom IS allowed for:- • Each adult couple; • Any other person aged 16 or more; • Two children of the same sex under the age of 16; • Two children under the age of 10 regardless of their sex; • A carer (who does not normally live with you) if you or your partner need overnight care. A spare bedroom IS NOT allowed for:- • You or your partner if you need to sleep apart because of a medical condition; • You share custody of your children but they do not live with you all of the time; • Your grandchild, step-child or any other relation who comes to stay; 1 WELFARE AND BENEFITS ADVICE TEAM THINK about how you will manage with less money - ACT NOW The worst thing you can do is ignore the reduction in your housing benefit. The changes could cost you your home if you do nothing. Our free, specialist and impartial advice on welfare and benefits may help you to manage your finances. Call our Welfare and Benefits Advice team on 0300 3300 900 (option 3) Are you getting the right amount of benefits? Do you have a spare room? Do you need help understanding your benefits? Did you know from 1st April 2013; Council Tax Benefit will end and is to be replaced by a new scheme called Localised Council Tax Support? This new scheme will mean everyone is expected to make a contribution towards their council tax and you could see a reduction in your benefit. Did you also know that from June 2013; the Government is introducing a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for eligible working age people aged 16 to 64? Get a lodger. You are allowed to use the “spare” bedrooms you are under- occupying by to take in a lodger. This may help you to make up the reduction in your housing benefit. To find out more, go to https://www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home/the-rent-a-room-scheme We are receiving a high number of calls. ACT NOW and contact us as soon as possible to see if we can help you. 2 ALLOCATIONS AND LETTINGS TEAM Have you thought about down-sizing to a smaller property so you no longer have a “spare room”? You may save money by paying less for your heating, council tax etc ACT NOW Moving home can take time to arrange. Call our Allocations and Lettings team on 0300 3300 900 (option 3) Tenants who choose to transfer to a smaller property will now be given higher priority on the Home-Link register. £2,000 is allocated to tenants who move to a smaller property. We will be advertising some properties for transferring tenants only, which will give priority when bidding. New Build Developments Havebury has new developments underway at The Maltings in Bury St Edmunds and in the High Street, Haverhill. These are brand new one and two bedroom flats built to a high specification in popular areas of town. It is hoped to give priority to tenants who wish to downsize and move into these prestigious developments. To apply for a transfer call Home-Link on 01284 757178 or visit their website at [email protected] We are receiving a high number of applications for smaller properties ACT NOW and contact us as soon as possible. 3 EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING TEAM “Make work pay”.... The Government is changing the benefit system to encourage people to find a job. ACT NOW Work with our team and highly qualified Careers Advisor. We will aim to guide you into realistic and suitable employment. Call our Employment and Training team on 0300 3300 900 (option 3) Need help with job application forms and CVs? Shake at the thought of interviews? Need help with computers, internet, emails, Microsoft Office? We offer a wide range of FREE courses, such as one to one careers & guidance programme, computer basics IT training and workshops. Our team will also offer on-going advice and assistance following completion of the careers and guidance programme. If you or a member of your household are currently unemployed and would like support, please contact our Team. Hear from our tenants at http://32681.podomatic.com/entry/2013-01-11T01_13_43-08_00 There are only a few spaces left on our courses. ACT NOW and contact us to book a space as soon as possible. 4 RENTS TEAM THINK about how you will pay your rent. THINK about how you will pay the difference if your housing benefit is cut. ACT NOW Payments must always be paid in advance even if you choose to pay fortnightly or monthly. Call our Rents team on 0300 3300 900 (option 2) Set up a direct debit or standing order to pay your rent weekly or monthly on 6th, 13th 20th or 27th. Your rent account must be clear, or a payment schedule arranged and paid for 6 months before you can bid and move into a new or smaller property. Paying off your arrears will take time, but you could use the £2,000 awarded to you for moving to a smaller property to help clear any arrears. Make sure you are ready to have your benefits paid to you and about how this will change how you manage your money. You must have a bank account so all of your benefits can be paid to you. Hear about Welfare Reform http://32681.podomatic.com/entry/2012-09-20T06_37_27-07_00 Having difficulty setting up a bank account due to bad credit rating or bankruptcy? Contact Ipswich and Suffolk Credit Union about their new debit card service on 01473 690690 or visit www.iscu.org.uk You can also speak to the Money Advice Service free on 0300 5005000, or visit www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk 5 BUDGET PLANNER Spend less. This may be very difficult for you and your household to do but it may be the only option if you are affected by the cuts and do not want to lose your home. Income Weekly/Monthly £ Outgoings Weekly/Monthly £ Wages Rent Housing Benefit Council tax Statutory Sick Pay Home contents insurance Working Tax Credits Utilities (oil, gas, electricity) Benefits (JSA, ESA, IB) Other fuel (coal etc) DLA Mobility Groceries DLA Care Mobile phone(s) Attendance Allowance Home telephone Carer’s Allowance Internet package Child Tax Credit TV package (ie Sky) Child Benefit TV Licence Statutory Maternity Car payments (loans, tax) Maternity Allowance Car insurance Non Dependants Travel (taxi/bus/train/car) Any other income: Childcare School meals Clothing Any other outgoings: Total Income: Total Outgoings: You are not alone, contact free or voluntary organisations to help you deal with debt and budgeting such as the Citizens Advice Bureau or the National Debtline. 6 CONTACT US To speak to us, 0300 3300 900 please ring Option 2 for RENTS TEAM Option 3 for all other TEAMS SMS 07781 482 888 Email us: [email protected] Fax 01284 722156 Write to us at Havebury House Havebury House Western Way Manor Road Bury St Edmunds Haverhill Suffolk Suffolk IP33 3SP CB9 0EP Opening hours Havebury’s offices are open at the following times (excluding Bank Holidays): Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm Friday 9am to 4pm Colour Overlay Cards We now have a selection of colour overlay cards available to use in our Bury Office. Colour overlay cards can help some people to read documents easier, if you would benefit from using a colour overlay when in our offices please let a member of our Reception team know. Need a copy in large print, on audio or a translation? Please call the switchboard on 0300 3300 900 7 OTHER USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS Citizens Advice Bureau The Risbygate Centre, 90 Risbygate Street, Bury St Edmunds, (Bury St Edmunds) Suffolk IP33 3AA Telephone: (01284) 753675 Drop-in (initial assessment only) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30 am to 2.00 pm Telephone Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 2.00 am. to 4.00 pm Citizens Advice Bureau Lower Downs Slade, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 9HB (Haverhill) Telephone: (01440) 704012 www.adviceguide.org.uk Support and Advice Enterprise House, Lamdin Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Project IP32 6NU Telephone: (01284) 748380 National Debtline Telephone: 0808 8084000 www.nationaldebthelpline.co.uk CAP 8 Lime Grove Estate, Falconer Road, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 7XU Christians Against Poverty Telephone: 01440 712950 Email: [email protected] 8 .
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