Comprehensive Spending Review
On January 1st 2012, the shared accommodation rate of HB will become universally applicable* to all recipients aged 34 or below. If you are single, aged 25-34 and receiving housing benefit, this benefit is likely to be reduced significantly. If your landlord won't accept lower rent you will probably need to move to be able to afford your rent.
* People with 3 months experience of living in a homelessness hostel and people under a MAPPA order are the only exceptions (correct at Nov 2011).
CRIAS Sustain
CRIAS Sustain is Crisis and CAYSH's service dedicated to those faced with a renewed threat of homelessness as a consequence of the changes to HB. The Local Authority (Sutton Council) will have already written to you if you were affected from January 1st 2012. If you think you are affected but have not yet received a letter, then email ian.denyer@caysh.org and we will be able to give you the facts.
You will almost certainly be affected if you are:
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34 years of age or younger, and
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single, and
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in receipt of Housing Benefit, and
- living in self-contained accommodation (bedsit/flat)
If you are all of the above, then chances are your HB payments will have been reduced to below the level of your current tenancy agreement.
At March 2012 levels, the reduction in HB for those affected dropped from £155.77 per week to £75.50 per week - a reduction of £80.00.
There is a possibility that you may be exempt if
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you are severely disabled (and receiving the middle or highest care component of disability living allowance) and live with a non-dependant (for example, an older relative)
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you are entitled to an extra bedroom for a non-resident carer
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you are leaving care (though the exemption will only apply untilyou are 22 years old).
Admittedly, CAYSH's CRIAS Sustain team have not spoken to very many private landlords by way of research, but we are willing to stick our neck out and guess most will not be willing to accept such a reduction in weekly rent, preferring instead to seek alternative tenants who will pay nearer the £155.77.
CRIAS Sustain will work with you to ensure that you and your current landlord:
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exhaust every possibility for you to remain in your current home;
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only where this is not possible, support you in finding a new affordable home; and
- ensuring you part company with your landlord on good terms, including retrieving your deposit and gaining references.
Nobody wants to see people made unable to afford the rent on their home, least of all CAYSH who have 30 years of trying to help people avoid homelessness. National organisations, led by Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people, have been lobbying government to try to get these changes reversed but with limited success.
CRIAS Sustain is independent of the Council, but needs to share information with them to make sure people affected by these changes are offered assistance. The service is funded by Crisis and delivered by CAYSH, a leading South London charity for young homeless.
To contact CRIAS Sustain call 020 8770 5395 or email ian.denyer@caysh.org
