1. Housing Benefit Update Cliff Williams, Principal Benefits Officer benefits@staffordbc.gov.uk

2. Performance

3. Future challenges Changing System Started training staff on 23 rd August 2010 Plan to stop working on the old system (closedown) on 28 th September 2010 Plan to start working on the new system (go-live) on 14 th October 2010 Shared Service Housing Benefits will be managed by Cannock Council from 1 st April 2010 Long Term Welfare Changes The new Government plan a radical overhaul of the Benefits system. The new look benefit system is planned for 3 years time Short / Medium term Benefit Changes The new Governments budget outlined changes to the Housing Benefit system

4. The changes From 1 April 2011 the Government plans to: end the maximum £15 weekly Housing Benefit excess remove the five bedroom Local Housing Allowance rate so that the maximum is four bedroom introduce absolute caps so for Local Housing Allowance weekly rates: £250 for a one bedroom property £290 for a two bedroom property £340 for a three bedroom property £400 for a four bedroom property From October 2011 the Government plans to: reduce all Local Housing Allowance rates so that about 3 in 10 properties for rent in the area should be affordable to people on Housing Benefit rather than every 5 in 10 properties as now. Changes to Housing Benefit from April 2011 and October 2011 Legislation due in November 2010 Local Housing Allowance rules from April and October next year Housing Benefit will take into account the cost of an additional bedroom providing property has a bedroom for a carer.

5. Effective dates of changes £15 excess and capping The anniversary date is the date a tenant first made the current claim. For example, if they claimed Housing Benefit on 5 September 2008, the anniversary date is 5 September. In this example the changes the Government is making from 1 April 2011, such as removing the £15 excess or capping Local Housing Allowance rates, could affect a tenant from 5 September 2011. The changes it is making from 1 October 2011 could affect them from 5 September 2012. Extra room for carers This will be effective from the date of legislation Reduction in LHA rates This is effective for new claims from October 2011 and anniversaries that fall on or after this date.

6. Reduction in LHA rates Example for August 2010

7. Questions?