Housing Benefits In Great Britain-Keeping Up With The Changes And Working The System

It is a bit of a vicious circle that the people who most need benefits and help are often the ones less likely to fully understand and use the system, leaving them in a catch 22 situation needing to get payday loans and other emergency help to keep going financially, somehow. Anyone who is stuck in debt or needing to get payday loans more often than once in a while could find that through understanding the benefits available and gradually getting all that they can get, they can re-establish themselves financially.

One such benefit which is relevant to plenty of payday loans customers, as our research has shown, is the housing benefit. A housing benefit is aid for those who have a difficult time paying their rent. Housing benefits in Great Britain changed in April 2011, along with many other big budget changes.

It is feasible to be given weekly amounts of, up to two hundred and fifty pounds for a one-bed property, tow hundred and ninety pounds for a two bed, three hundred and forty pounds for a three bed and four hundred pounds for four or more bedroom properties. If you are entitled, you do well to apply as well for a Discretionary Housing Payment, which is applicable for people who are still running into problems to manage to pay the rent by themselves. There is a set budget for each council to aid in assisting further with housing costs even though the guidelines are different in each location.

There are some reasons that stop people from being given housing benefit. These are:

• Savings over sixteen thousand pounds, except if you receive the 'promise credit' of pension credit.
• You reside in a close relative's home.
• You are a full-time student (exempted if you have children or disabled).
• Asylum seeker or are supported to be in the United Kingdom.

Alternatively, if you are:

• Living with a civil partner or a partner just one can receive a housing benefit.
• Under twenty-five and single you can only receive housing benefit for a shared one room or a bedsit accommodation. This is due to include the under thirty-five year olds started in April 2012.

If it still seems like you qualify then continue on to get the present state of things. Take the time, even though the system may seem difficult as it will be well worth your while and help you avoid other forms of finance such as payday loans, taken too often.

On April 2011, a range of cuts were introduced that has decreased the amount of assistance available. What has changed?

• Elimination of the rate for the five bedroom housing benefit

Before April 2011, the most number of allowed bedrooms for each house was five, now it is four.

• They have started to place limits that now place a cap on the weekly amount that can be paid.

Before 4-2011 the amount that could be paid out was not limited, it was based on the medium rental worth of properties in the area (see below), so in certain places, such as in the city folks were being paid bigger payments. They have been capped to control this.

• Two hundred and fifty pounds, for one bed property
• Two hundred and ninety pounds for two-bed property
• Three hundred and forty for three-bed property
• Four hundred pounds for a four - bed property
• The rates are now based on a thirtieth percentile of the rents in the area

Previously to April 2011, they based the rates for payments on the middle value of properties in the locations. Removal of fifteen pounds each week of excess benefit. If a claimant's rent was less than the housing benefit rate on the old system, they could hold onto any excess up to fifteen pounds each week. From April 2011, this was eliminated for everyone. Additional bedroom areas for claimants that are disabled.

From April 2011 plaintiff or their partners who are disabled (with an ongoing health condition) who meet the criteria, who require overnight care to be provided by a non-resident care person will receive an additional bedroom area for the care person.

Inform your authority agency to look at and further review your housing benefit claim once again because you must have them provide you with extra space and to make it available for the care giver before you receive this help.

As you can appreciate it is vital to understand the changes that came into being on 1st April 2011. Whether you are pretty ok financially but realise that there is no harm to be fully au fait with the system or you wish to get out of a cycle of payday loans and debt; then take the first steps as soon as possible.

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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC '-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN' 'http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd'><html><head><title>Articles Back Link | Housing Benefits In Great Britain-Keeping Up With The Changes And Working The System</title></head><body><h3>Housing Benefits In Great Britain-Keeping Up With The Changes And Working The System</h3><br><br> By: Jackie De Burca<br><br><p><p>It is a bit of a vicious circle that the people who most need benefits and help are often the ones less likely to fully understand and use the system, leaving them in a catch 22 situation needing to get payday loans and other emergency help to keep going financially, somehow. Anyone who is stuck in debt or needing to get payday loans more often than once in a while could find that through understanding the benefits available and gradually getting all that they can get, they can re-establish themselves financially.</P><p>One such benefit which is relevant to plenty of payday loans customers, as our research has shown, is the housing benefit. A housing benefit is aid for those who have a difficult time paying their rent. Housing benefits in Great Britain changed in April 2011, along with many other big budget changes.</P><p>It is feasible to be given weekly amounts of, up to two hundred and fifty pounds for a one-bed property, tow hundred and ninety pounds for a two bed, three hundred and forty pounds for a three bed and four hundred pounds for four or more bedroom properties. If you are entitled, you do well to apply as well for a Discretionary Housing Payment, which is applicable for people who are still running into problems to manage to pay the rent by themselves. There is a set budget for each council to aid in assisting further with housing costs even though the guidelines are different in each location. </P><p>There are some reasons that stop people from being given housing benefit. These are:</P><p>• Savings over sixteen thousand pounds, except if you receive the 'promise credit' of pension credit.<br>• You reside in a close relative's home.<br>• You are a full-time student (exempted if you have children or disabled).<br>• Asylum seeker or are supported to be in the United Kingdom.</P><p> Alternatively, if you are:</P><p>• Living with a civil partner or a partner just one can receive a housing benefit.<br>• Under twenty-five and single you can only receive housing benefit for a shared one room or a bedsit accommodation. This is due to include the under thirty-five year olds started in April 2012.</P><p>If it still seems like you qualify then continue on to get the present state of things. Take the time, even though the system may seem difficult as it will be well worth your while and help you avoid other forms of finance such as payday loans, taken too often.</P><p>On April 2011, a range of cuts were introduced that has decreased the amount of assistance available. What has changed?</P><p>• Elimination of the rate for the five bedroom housing benefit </P><p>Before April 2011, the most number of allowed bedrooms for each house was five, now it is four.</P><p>• They have started to place limits that now place a cap on the weekly amount that can be paid.</P><p>Before 4-2011 the amount that could be paid out was not limited, it was based on the medium rental worth of properties in the area (see below), so in certain places, such as in the city folks were being paid bigger payments. They have been capped to control this. </P><p>• Two hundred and fifty pounds, for one bed property <br>• Two hundred and ninety pounds for two-bed property <br>• Three hundred and forty for three-bed property <br>• Four hundred pounds for a four - bed property <br>• The rates are now based on a thirtieth percentile of the rents in the area</P><p>Previously to April 2011, they based the rates for payments on the middle value of properties in the locations. Removal of fifteen pounds each week of excess benefit. If a claimant's rent was less than the housing benefit rate on the old system, they could hold onto any excess up to fifteen pounds each week. From April 2011, this was eliminated for everyone. Additional bedroom areas for claimants that are disabled.</P><p>From April 2011 plaintiff or their partners who are disabled (with an ongoing health condition) who meet the criteria, who require overnight care to be provided by a non-resident care person will receive an additional bedroom area for the care person.</P><p>Inform your authority agency to look at and further review your housing benefit claim once again because you must have them provide you with extra space and to make it available for the care giver before you receive this help.</P><p>As you can appreciate it is vital to understand the changes that came into being on 1st April 2011. Whether you are pretty ok financially but realise that there is no harm to be fully au fait with the system or you wish to get out of a cycle of payday loans and debt; then take the first steps as soon as possible.<br></P></p> <br><br> <b>Author Resource:-></b>  <br><br><b>Article From</b> <a href='http://www.articlesbacklink.com/'>Articles Back Link</a><br></body></html>