Your benefits are changing Important information on the amount of housing benefit you can receive
2 From July 2013, the overall amount of housing benefit you can receive will be capped
Your benefits are changing 3 The Government will add up how much money you get from a range of benefits, including: housing benefit, jobseeker s allowance, employment support allowance, child benefit, child tax credit and carer s allowance. If the total comes to more than the maximum amount allowed your housing benefit payments will be reduced. From the 15 July the benefit cap is being applied in Cornwall the maximum amount of benefit you will be able to receive after this date will be 500 per week for single parents 500 per week for couples with or without children 350 per week for single people without children
4 Which benefits count towards the cap?
Your benefits are changing 5 These benefits all count when working out how much you can get a week: Bereavement Child Benefit Employment and Support (except where it is paid with the support Component) Housing Benefit Income Support Maternity Widowed Parent s Widow s Pension Carer s Child Tax Credit Guardian s Incapacity Benefit Jobseeker s Severe Disablement Widowed Mother s Widow s Pension Age-Related
6 Households that aren t affected by the cap The cap won t apply to you if you, your partner or any children you are responsible for are in receipt of any of the following:
Your benefits are changing 7 Attendance Disability Living Personal Independence Payment (From April 2013) The support component of Employment and Support Industrial Injuries Benefits (and equivalent payments as part of a war disablement pension or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme) War Widow s or War Widower s Pension This will also not apply to you if: You get Pension credit You find employment and get Working Tax Credit
8 Here are some examples of how the benefit cap could affect entitlement
Your benefits are changing 9 Example 1 Mr and Mrs Jones receive benefit income from: Housing Benefit: 150 Child Benefit: 100.70 Child Tax Credits: 325 Income Support: 154.35 Total weekly benefit income is: 730.05-230.05 As their total benefit income exceeds the benefit cap ( 500) by 230.05 this will be deducted from their Housing Benefit award. So, instead of receiving 150.00 in housing benefit they will receive 0.50 per week, this is the minimum award of housing benefit we can make. Example 2 Mr and Mrs Smith receive benefit income from: Housing Benefit: 183.46 Child Benefit: 73.90 Child Tax Credits: 272 Job Seekers : 111.45 Total weekly benefit income is: 640.81-140.81 As their benefit income exceeds the benefit cap ( 500) by 140.81 this will be deducted from their Housing Benefit award. So, instead of receiving 183.46 in housing benefit they will receive 42.65 per week.
10 What should I do? If you are worried about being able to afford to pay your rent once the benefit cap is imposed you should ask for advice. If you don t pay your rent you could lose your home. If you are having difficulty paying, or think you might have difficulty paying, you should talk to your landlord as soon as possible about different ways to pay. Benefit Cap will not apply to you if you find employment and receive, or become entitled to, Working Tax Credit.
Your benefits are changing 11 You can also: Contact the Council to ask about extra financial help. Councils have a limited amount of money available to make discretionary payments towards housing costs. You can telephone us on 0300 1234 121 Get in touch with your local citizens advice bureau (www.citizensadvice.org.uk) or other local advice agencies. Make sure you are claiming all the benefits you can, for example, money to help with the costs of a disability. Try to find some paid work to increase your income. For advice and guidance on in work benefits and job seeking make an appointment with your local jobcentre or look on the website www.gov.uk Get more information about the cap on benefits by calling the Governments information line on 0845 6057064
This leaflet contains general information based on current draft regulations. For more detailed information about the possible effect on your own claim or if you have any questions about the information in this leaflet you can to talk to: Benefits staff at Cornwall Council Phone: 0300 1234 121 Email: benefits@cornwall.gov.uk Your landlord Citizens Advice bureau Local advice agencies If you would like this information in another format or language please contact: Cornwall Council, County Hall, Treyew Road, Truro TR1 3AY Telephone: 0300 1234 100 Email: enquiries@cornwall.gov.uk Join us on Facebook.com/forcornwall Follow us on Twitter @cornwallcouncil Printed on recycled paper. JN33878 July 2013