Working age tenants in social housing will have their Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing element reduced by 14% if they have one spare bedroom or 25% if they have two or more spare bedrooms. Its proper name is the “social sector size criteria”, but most people call it the “bedroom tax”.
Please note: Most tenants of pension age are not affected by the bedroom tax, however if they receive Universal credit as a mixed age couple (one pension age & one working age) they will still be affected by the reduction.
The Regulations allow one bedroom:
- For the claimant and any joint claimant i.e. partner.
- Each non-dependant living as part of the household.
- Each young person aged 16 or over
- For children, i.e. anyone under 16 living in the property:
- a child under 16 would be expected to share with one other child of the same gender (maximum of two to a room),
- a child under 10 would be expected to share with one other child aged under 10 regardless of gender (maximum of two to a room),
Special rules apply in certain circumstances:
- For certain couples who, due to disability, are unable to share a bedroom.
- A severely disabled child who is eligible for the middle or high rate care component of DLA care can be allocated their own bedroom in certain circumstances
- For an overnight carer who doesn't normally live in the property in certain circumstances
- For a foster carer
Please ask your inclusion advisor for more information on applying for these exemptions.
