Social sector size criteria ("bedroom tax")
In April 2013 the government introduced a 'size criteria' which limits how many bedrooms you will get Housing Benefit for if you are renting from:
- a local authority
- a registered housing association, or
- any other registered social landlord
You are affected if you:
- live in a council or housing association property, and
- have more bedrooms than you need under the rules, and
- are of working age (under state pension credit age)
The benefit 'size criteria' allows one bedroom for:
- a couple
- a person over 16
- two children of the same sex aged under 16
- two children of any sex who are younger than 10
- any other single child under 16
You may also be allowed an additional bedroom if:
- you or your partner need overnight care from someone who doesn't normally live with you
- you are an approved foster carer and either have a foster child or children living with you or you are waiting for a child/children to be placed with you
- your children are unable to share a bedroom because of severe disabilities – we will assess your individual circumstances and decide where it is inappropriate for the children to be expected to share a room.
Please note if you have an adult child or children who are away from home serving as a member of the Armed Forces, a bedroom will continue to be allowed for them as long as they have an intention to return to your property.
If you have more bedrooms than you need
If you have more bedrooms than the government say you need, your Housing Benefit is reduced. This will be shown on your Housing Benefit notification letter.
The amount allowed for rent and any service charges is reduced by:
- 14% if you have one extra bedroom, or
- 25% if you have two or more extra bedrooms.
Who isn't affected?
The change only applies to people of working age so people of pension age are not affected. If you or your partner are of pension credit age, the changes don't affect you. You can use the Pension Credit age calculator to see if you are of pension age.
Exemptions
There are some circumstances where the size criteria rules are not applied.
Non-mainstream accommodation
These are mooring charges for houseboats and site charges for caravans and mobile homes as well as various 'excluded tenancies' such as regulated tenancies.
Temporary accommodation
Any claimant who is placed in temporary accommodation by the council because they are homeless or to prevent homelessness.
Exempt accommodation
The size criteria rules are not applied to those in supported 'exempt' accommodation. This is a particular type of supported accommodation.
I share care of my children with my ex-partner, are we both entitled to a room for them?
Where parents who don't live together have shared care of their children, the children are treated as living with the parent who is treated as responsible for them and provides their main home.
For someone to be treated as responsible for a child or young person, the child or young person must normally be living with them. If a child or young person spends equal amounts of time in different households, or there is a question as to whom they normally live with, they are treated as living with the person who is receiving Child Benefit for them.
The parent who is not considered to provide their main home is not entitled to receive Housing Benefit for an extra room for their child/children. If this applies to you, and you wish to remain in your current property then you will need to make up the shortfall in rent yourself. You may be able to apply for a discretionary housing payment to help with the shortfall.
I share the house with someone else, how is my room allowance worked out?
If you occupy your property jointly with someone else, the size criteria rules take into account everyone living in the property when deciding whether you are under-occupying for Housing Benefit purposes.
My house has been adapted to help with my disability. Am I included in the size criteria rules?
Other than the cases stated above there are no exceptions to the size criteria rules. If there is a reason that an extra room is needed you may be able to apply for a discretionary housing payment.
My child has a disability and is not able to share a room; will I be allowed an extra room for them?
If your children are unable to share a bedroom because of severe disabilities, we assess your individual circumstances and decide whether it is inappropriate for the children to be expected to share a room.
My child is away at university, can I keep their room for when they are home in the holidays?
The size criteria rules do not allow for this, unless the absence is temporary (less than thirteen or 52 weeks for students) and the young person concerned intends to return home.