6. HELP WITH HOUSING COSTS

The government has been focusing on Housing Benefit as a means of cutting public spending for some time. It has introduced many changes including: capping Housing Benefit at a fixed level based on property size; raising the age for those entitled only to the single room rate from 25 to 35; reducing the calculation that is used to work out the rate of Local Housing Allowance; capping total benefits and introducing the so-called “bedroom tax” or spare room subsidy (see page 16).

Housing Benefit is being abolished and will be paid instead as part of Universal Credit. This began in October 2013 for new claims. If you are still getting Housing Benefit while you’re waiting for your benefits to be transferred to Universal Credit, you can choose whether to appeal against a Housing Benefit decision or ask for it to be looked at again first. Once your benefits are transferred to Universal Credit, you will be covered by the new appeal rules.