Bedroom Tax?

[ytsrik1978]

i am on esa and get dla the high rate mobility and low rate care i have a carer and because i only get the low rate care componant my carer cannot claim carers allowance. My carer does a lot for me they do my shopping, help me in and out of the shower, do all my cooking and cleaning, they take me to all my hospital appointments. They have to stay with me a few nights a week in my spare room will i have to pay bedroom tax when i have a carer but they cannot clame carers allowance or me?

Thank you
Kirsty

[woofgang]

to be clear Kirsty, no one will be paying bedroom tax. If you live in social housing, not owned by you or rented privately, and are in of receipt of housing benefit and have one or more unused bedrooms, you might lose some of the housing benefit.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21321113

[TWR]

They will get paid by the Comp they work for.

[woofgang]

wrong thread TWR?

[ytsrik1978]

they dont work for a company !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cazzz1975]

quite likely you will lose a portion of your housing benefit, the specifics of the tax seems to be up in the air at the moment. here is a link to whats affected at the moment.
http://www.housing.org.uk/policy/welfare_reform/%E2%80%98under-occupation%E2%80%99_penalty.aspx

[bednobs]

can i ask kirsty, why do they have to stay with you or is it just because it's convenient to stay? Do they pay you any rent for staying with you? Where do they live when they are not staying with you?

[jd_1984]

This link may help.
But I had to read three times to get a grasp of it..

http://www.housing.org.uk/policy/welfare_reform/%E2%80%98under-occupation%E2%80%99_penalty.aspx

[jd_1984]

sorry cazz already posted that link!

[ladybirder]

According to the link posted, specifically this bit, it looks as if you won't be affected ytsrick:

[i] What do the changes mean?

The size criteria in the social rented sector will restrict housing benefit to allow for one bedroom for each person or couple living as part of the household, with the following exceptions:

Children under 16 of same gender expected to share
Children under 10 expected to share regardless of gender
Disabled tenant or partner who needs non resident overnight carer will be allowed an extra bedroom [i]

[factor-fiction]

Do you own your home, rent privately or live in social housing, Kirsty?

[Peter Pedant]

woofie has been howling, Kirsty

Everyone knows (besides W who seems to have been tied to a radiator during all this) that come April 2013 if you are in receipt of Housing Benefit (now called Local Housing Allowance LHA) you will lose 20 - 30% of the benefit (= bedroom tax) per bedroom if it unused

by which I mean if some nosy jobsworth deems it to be unused on the very good grounds that HE gets more money, the more he deems


and your good point is will I (you) be caught by such a provision if my carer has to stay overnight from time to time.

and I think the answer is - since I have a disabled tenant and Oh God it is a bl++dy nightmare for all concerned - that yo should ask Citizen's Advice. They are more likely to know to be honest than us

and Woofie, you aren't at Stafford now, do TRY to be more helpful.... ;)

[cazzz1975]

you can apply to your local council for discretionary payments which will cover the shortfall, this is on the basis that you satisfy the criteria of proving you need the extra room.

[factor-fiction]

I'm not sure I understand your point, P-P, about Woofgang's response and helpful link. Or are you just saying it's wrong for Woofgang to say a reduction in housing benefit is not a bedroom tax- because I can see both points of view there

[emmie]

it is a fact that people in social housing will pay more for underused properties they live in. In your case and many more like it should mean getting less in housing benefit. If you are worried, and believe me you are not the only one, contact the council, CAB, and if elderly Age UK