LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE

In October 2002 the Government announced a programme of reform to Housing Benefits, The Local Housing Allowance forms part of this reform agenda.

The scheme is intended to promote:

1         Fairness

2         Choice

3         Transparency

4         Personal responsibility

5         Increased work incentives, and

6         Simplicity for claimants of Housing Benefits

The scheme is effective from 7^th April 2008.

What is Local Housing Allowance?

Local Housing Allowance is a new way of working out Housing Benefit.

It’s based on the number of bedrooms your family are allowed and not how much the rent is. 

The number of bedrooms allowed depends on who lives with you.

You are entitled to one bedroom for:

• every adult couple (married or unmarried)
• any other adult aged 16 or over
• any two children of the same sex aged under 16
• any two children regardless of sex aged under 10
• any other child

Single tenants aged under 25 will be entitled to a standard rate similar to the single room rent used now - it will be an amount for a single room with shared facilities.

Who will be affected by the Local Housing Allowance?

The scheme will only affect you if you make a new claim for Housing Benefit or who have a change of address from 7^th April 2008 onwards and you pay rent to a private landlord. 

Anyone already in receipt of Housing Benefit will not be affected unless they move or have a break in their benefit.

Who is not affected by the Local Housing Allowance?

•                       Local authority tenants
•                       Housing association tenants
•                      Certain protected cases such as people living in supported housing, provided by certain Local Authorities, Housing Associations, charitable and voluntary organisations
•                       Tenants in caravans, houseboats and hostels
•                       Tenancies where there is a substantial amount of board provided
•                       Tenancies which are excluded from current rent restrictions   

How is Local Housing Allowance Paid?

In most cases the Local Housing Allowance is paid to the tenant and not landlord.

You will need to have a bank account.  Payment will be made direct to your account.

All payments have to be paid to the claimant unless it is unlikely that the customer will pay his/her rent or will have difficulty managing his/her affairs.  For more information please contact the Council direct.

How can I find out my rate of Local Housing Allowance?

The Local Housing Allowance figures will be published in the Council Buildings, on the website and in other local sites such as libraries and community centres, so that both you and your landlords can know the appropriate Local Housing Allowance level for specific circumstances.

Please remember, your Housing Benefit is calculated using the relevant Local Housing Allowance for your family unit and the amount of income and savings you have.  You may not receive full Housing Benefit.

If you want further information or a trial calculation to see what you might get, please contact the Housing Benefits section on 01270 537774 or visit us at Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, Delamere House, Delamere Street, Crewe or Nantwich Customer Service Centre, Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich.

How do I apply for Local Housing Allowance?

You apply by completing an application form available from the Council or by ringing;

01270 537774.

Where to get more information?

If you want to know more about the changes and how they affect you:

• phone your Housing Benefit department on 01270 537774 
• visit your Housing Benefit department at Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council, Delamere House, Delamere Street, Crewe
• email us at; lhaqueries@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
• visit www.direct.gov.uk