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Benefits News- Landlord Newsletter
Autumn/Winter 2009/10
Introduction
Welcome to our autumn/winter edition of LHA Cap Removal
Benefits News. You can get full From April 2010, the £15 cap is being
information on housing benefit from our removed from claimants whose rent
web site at www.stirling.gov.uk charge is less than their LHA rate.
Existing claimants who get a top-up will
have this removed on the anniversary of
their claim after April 2010. This change
Are you satisfied?
will simplify the system and save money.
We always try to treat our landlords and
agents as our customers. We want your
feedback. Please take a few minutes to
complete our on-line survey at Child Benefit fully disregarded
www.stirling.gov.uk/index/services/counciltax.htm From 2 November 2009, child benefit will
no longer be counted when working out
housing and council tax benefit. This
should boost the income of the poorest
Keeping track of Local Housing families and make it easier for them to
pay their bills. Current claimants will
Allowance Rates (LHA)
have their claims recalculated
The table below show the October 2009
automatically. You should encourage your
LHA rates (check our web site monthly
tenants with children not currently on
for any changes to the rates)
housing benefit to apply now, as they may
well qualify.
Number of Weekly Monthly
bedrooms amount amount
Shared Room £69.23 £300.00 Capital not counted
Rate For pensioners over 60 years, from 2
1 Bedroom £86.54 £375.01 November 2009, the first £10,000 of any
savings will no longer be counted. We
2 Bedrooms £114.81 £497.51
have to assume a tariff income of £1 for
3 Bedrooms £144.23 £625.00 every £500 for any savings between
4 Bedrooms £184.62 £800.02
£10,000 and £15,999 (eg we take a tariff
income of £5 for savings of £12,499)
5 Bedrooms £288.46 £1249.99
Direct Gov Welfare Benefits Our Performance
Advisor We try to organise ourselves to assess
Direct Gov UK is the main website where benefit claims as efficiently and as
people can get advice and help on a very quickly as possible to ensure our claimants
broad range of services. For money, tax get their housing benefit promptly and
and benefit enquiries for tenants and can pay their rent. Our main national
private landlords try out: indicator is called ‘Right Time’, and
www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ measures the average time to process
new claims and changes of circumstances:
8.3 days (July) to 8.9 days (June)
Our average monthly performance in
assessing Private Tenant new claims (the
most complex) range from 21 days (July)
Winter Fuel Payments
to 25 days (April).
There is no change to the winter fuel
payments for this winter (2009/10).
Depending on pensioner’s (60+) payments
will range from £125 to £400 (for 80
Rent Arrears
year olds) Claimants must be at least 60 If your tenant is on housing benefit paid
years during the qualifying week of 21 to direct to them, you can have it paid to you
27 September 2009. Payments are made if they owe 8 weeks or more rent. If this
nearer Christmas. For more information happens please supply details in writing to
go to: the address below or phone to discuss.
www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel/
Claims by Appointment
We encourage people to apply for housing
benefit by using our ‘Private
Help with Heating and Insulation
Appointments’ system. They should phone
Private tenants on housing benefit could
(01786) 443210 for information and
get help with heating and insulation
advice on the documents needed and if
grants. Help is also available for tenants
everything is straightforward, we will
and owner occupiers who get disability
assess their claim within 24 hours.
benefits such as attendance allowance or
disability living allowance. There is more
information on the Energy Action
Scotland website at: www.eas.org.uk Contact Details
Or freephone 0800 512 012 Email:finservices@stirling.gov.uk
Telephone: 01786 443210
Address:Viewforth, 14 Pitt Terrace,
Stirling, FK8 2ET
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