Housing Benefit restrictions for single people, under the age of 35.

Under the current rules, if you are single, under the age of 25 and rent from a private landlord, you will normally only be entitled to enough Housing Benefit to cover the average cost of a single room in a shared house in your area. This is the case even if you have a place of your own. This rule is often known as the 'single room rent restriction'.

From January 2012 this rule will be extended to single people under 35. This means that the maximum Housing Benefit you may be entitled to is the rate to cover a single room in a shared house or flat. Who will this change affect?

These changes will affect you if you:

rent accommodation from a private landlord
already get Housing Benefit, or are going to make a new claim
are single
do not normally have children living with you
are under 35 years old
live in a self contained property

These changes will not affect you if you:

rent from a local authority or housing association
are aged under 22 and have been in care
live in supported housing provided by a housing association, registered charity, voluntary organisation or a county council (in England)
get the severe disability premium in your benefit because you are entitled to the middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance
need an extra bedroom for a carer who provides you with the overnight care you need but who does not normally live with you
have spent at least three months in a
- - homeless hostel or
  - hostel specialising in rehabilitating and resettling within the community. To benefit from this exemption you need to have been offered and accepted support services to enable you to be rehabilitated or resettled in the community
are managed under active multi-agency management under the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements

When will the change happen?

If you are single and under the age of 35 and make a new claim on or after 1 January 2012, you will be affected straight away.

If you already receive Housing Benefit and on 1 January 2012 you are receiving transitional protection from the April 2011 Local Housing Allowance changes, this change will affect you at the same time as the other Local Housing Allowance changes.

If you already receive Housing Benefit and on 1 January 2012 you are not receiving transitional protection from the April 2011 Local Housing Allowance changes, this change will affect you when we next assess your claim - this is usually a year after your last assessment.

Some people, those whose anniversary dates fall between 1st January 2012 and 31st March 2012 and qualify for transitional protection will not be affected by this change until the end of their transitional protection.

If you have been receiving Housing Benefit since before 7 April 2008, with no break in your claim and have not changed your address, this change will affect you when we next assess your claim - this is usually a year from when you made a claim.

What do I need to do?

If this change affects you, we will write to you to tell what your new Housing Benefit entitlement is.

If you are concerned about how these changes will affect you, please phone the Benefits Service on 01274 432772 for advice.