Suggested letter for Local Authorities to send to claimants affected by RSRS

Dear Mr Smith,

Support with the recent changes to Housing Benefit

Changes to Housing Benefit rules from April 2013 mean that the amount you receive is now based on the number of people in your household and the size of your accommodation. 

This change helps families who live in overcrowded accommodation to find a new home and helps reduce the number of people on waiting lists. People who rent from private landlords already receive Housing Benefit in this way, and this makes it fair for everyone.

If your Housing Benefit has been reduced, then there are a range of options that can help. This letter explains more about those options.

•	You could consider moving to alternative housing that better meets your needs, or think about home swapping. Talk to us or your housing association for advice – you can find out more at www.gov.uk/apply-swap-homes-council.
•	Finding work or increasing your hours, if you can, is one of the best ways to make up any shortfall. Some of your earnings may be ignored when working out your Housing Benefit or other benefits you receive. You can check how much better off you could be by using the Benefits Adviser at www.gov.uk/benefits-adviser and get easy access to thousands of jobs on Universal Jobmatch at www.gov.uk/jobsearch. 
•	If you have a lodger, their room would not be considered spare. You’ll need to tell the benefits office that you are renting out a room, but the first £20 of weekly income won’t affect the amount you get paid. There’s more information at www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home. 

If you are claiming Universal Credit, the rules about how your benefit is calculated are different. Speak to your Coach at Jobcentre Plus to find out more.

If you can’t pay your rent or if you’re worried, talk to us for advice or support. If you’d like independent advice about managing your money then you can also visit the Money Advice Service at www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk 

If you need further help with housing costs then we may be able to offer a Discretionary Housing Payment. These payments provide extra money when the council decides that you need extra help to meet your housing costs. We will look at your circumstances to see whether you are eligible, how much you will be paid and for how long you will receive the payment. Please contact us for more information.

Yours sincerely,

Local authority officer