Bedroom Tax

BigDon

Hi, My daughter and grandson moved out in April and we have now had a letter for local Council regarding our housing benefits being cut. They have said we have to start paying bedroom tax for 2 rooms in our 3 bedroom house. I actually sleep in one spare room next to bathroom due to my disability and have done for around 7 months or so! I’m on enhanced mobility and enhanced daily living allowance both PIP!
(Bit more info on our circumstances and finances) Wife works 3hrs a day, we’re on ESA and I receive enhanced rate PIP, We did receive full housing benefits before my daughter moved out)

Am I correct in saying this would make me exempt from paying for one room due to me being on enhanced rates of PIP?

My partner in my sole carer but over last 7/8 months it’s become a struggle for me to sleep in same bed as I keep her awake at night.

The other room is spare but think my youngest daughter who is 24 might be moving in due to an abusive relationship. She’s works in A&E so works 13 hr shifts, just a bit worried this would cause even more of a problem with housing benefits as she works? I have seen this on the housing rights website, which states because I’m I get daily living component of PIP that I shouldn’t have deductions? My daughter also get PIP so not sure if this helps.

My heads spinning atm l, I’ve rad so many conflicting articles!

poppy123456

What you've seen is non dependant deductions, which there wouldn't be because you're claiming daily living PIP. A non dependant is someone over the age of 18.

The bedroom tax applies to those in social/council housing, if you have spare bedrooms. It's 14% for 1 bedroom and 25% for 2 or more bedrooms. Claiming PIP doesn't exempt you from this.

If you're unable to share a bedroom with your partner you maybe able to claim for an extra bedroom but you'll need to contact your Local Authority and apply. There's some information here. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/how-an-extra-bedroom-affects-your-housing-benefit/check-if-youre-allowed-an-extra-bedroom-for-housing-benefit/#:~:text=You%20can%20also%20get%20an,higher%20rate%20of%20Attendance%20Allowance

To be clear for others reading this, the link you posted is for Universal Credit and non dependant deductions for housing element. It doesn't apply for Housing benefit.

There's some information here for bedroom tax. https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/how_to_deal_with_the_bedroom_tax

BigDon

Thank you @poppy123456

The second link you posted takes me too the Shelter website and it states if you receive housing benefits (which I do) then no deduction should be made if either the non dependent receives Daily living allowance or I receive DLA is this correct?

From my understanding, if my daughter was to move in my ESA wouldn’t be affected but my Housing benefits would but because we both get DLA then no deduction should be made.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non_dependants

poppy123456

Non dependant deductions are completely different to bedroom tax and you're confusing the two. There's no non dependant deductions because of your PIP daily living award.

As you have 2 spare bedrooms then there will be a 25% reduction in your housing benefit. If you are awarded an extra bedroom because you can't share with your partner then the bedroom tax will be 14% if you have one 1 spare bedroom. Please see the link I posted about bedroom tax. Ignore the link about non dependants.

If your other daughter moved in then you would have 1 spare bedroom, unless you're awarded a bedroom due to not being able to share with your partner and then there will be no spare bedrooms.

BigDon

So my daughter would be expected to pay our rent or some portion of it, if she was to move home?

BigDon

Sorry it’s all a bit confusing too me 😢

The bedroom tax shouldn’t be an issue as my doctors are writing me a letter for council and if my daughter moves back home then the bedrooms would be taken.

Im just concerned that my daughter moving in would put her in the predicament of paying our rent. She also receives PIP and DLA and everything I’ve read states that our housing benefits wouldn’t be deducted?

poppy123456

I didn’t advise that there would be any non dependent deductions.

You will not have any non dependent deductions of any adult lives with you, regardless of who it is.

If you have any spare bedrooms then the bedroom tax will apply to you.

I’m unsure how else to explain it to you.

BigDon

Sorry Poppy I know you didn’t advise us this.

Like I stated bedroom tax shouldn’t be a problem as all 3 bedrooms will be occupied. I was just worried we would be lumbering my daughter with our rent ATEOTD

I take it this quote

“You will not have any non dependent deductions of any adult lives with you, regardless of who it is.”

Is this because I receive the daily living component on PIP so regardless if someone is working and living with us, the council will not make reductions to our housing benefits?

Sorry for all the questions

poppy123456

Daily living PIP award means there's no non dependent deductions. Again, I don't know how else to advise because I can't really be more clear.

Adrian_Scope

Hi @BigDon, is your daughter getting help with her abusive relationship?

I hope Poppy has been able to reassure you that as you receive daily living PIP you will not have non-dependant deductions taken from your housing benefit.

Have you told them you can't share a room with your wife? Hopefully the letter from your GP will help with this.