Welfare Reform

From 1 April 2013, the Scottish Government brought in under-occupancy charges relating to housing benefit.  If you have one spare bedroom your housing benefit will be reduced by 14%, if you have 2 or more bedrooms spare your housing benefit will be reduced by 25%. You can apply for discretionary housing payments to assist you with these reductions.  Contact your Housing Officer or get an appointment with one of our Welfare Benefits Advisors to assist you with this.  You can read further about this in our DHP Booklet.

The Scottish Government are also making some big changes regarding the way you will receive your benefits. If you are in receipt of any of the following benefits it is proposed you will receive one monthly payment of Universal Credit:

Housing benefit

Income based jobseekers allowance

Income support

Child tax credit 

Working tax credit

Income related Employment Support Allowance

If you are sanctioned from any of your benefits, please contact the office for advice.

Benefit Cap

During Novemeber 2016 the Government introduced a benefit cap. The benefit cap puts a limit on the total amount of benefits you can receive. Any families whos total income or benefits add up to over £20,000 per year will be affected and may lose some benefit entitlement.