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Social Security Advisory Committee consultation

Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2010, and the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions Order) 2010

1 December 2010

Background

The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) was asked by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to consider proposals for the Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2010, and the associated amendments to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions Order) 2010.

The proposed changes are

From April 2011:

• Local Housing Allowance levels will be restricted to the 4 bedroom rate;
• A new upper limit will be introduced for each property size, with upper limits set at:

£250 a week for a 1 bedroom property
£290 a week for a 2 bedroom property
£340 a week for a 3 bedroom property
£400 a week for a 4 bedroom property or larger.

• The £15 weekly excess provision currently payable within the Local Housing Allowance rules will be removed.
• The size criteria will be adjusted to provide for an additional bedroom for a nonresident carer where a disabled customer has an established need for overnight care.

From October 2011:

• The Local Housing Allowance will be set at the 30th percentile of rents in each Broad Rental Market Area, rather than the median.

The Government estimates that it will save over £3 billion by introducing these regulations.

The closing date for responses was 10 September 2010.

DWP action

You can see the Government's response to the SSAC findings below. Regulations, SI 2010/2835 and SI 2010/2836 have now been laid.

More information

• government's response
• hb direct newsletter - November 2010
• ssac website

Note: for pdf files you will need to download adobe acrobat reader. To convert the pdf to alternative formats or for more information on accessibility go to access adobe.

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