Uttlesford families could be entitled to more help with rent payments

FAMILIES could be entitled to more help with rent payments thanks to a change in benefit rules, the Uttlesford Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has revealed.

The CAB is urging parents who receive child benefit and rent their homes but who at present get no housing benefit to check their entitlement again.

Manager of Uttlesford CAB, Kate Robson, said: "We are seeing more and more families struggling to make ends meet and finding it increasingly hard to afford to pay their essential household bills, including their rent.

"Our calculations show that this change in the rules could make a huge difference to them. We would urge all parents in rented accommodation who are not at present getting any housing benefit to contact us or the council's housing benefit department as soon as possible to find out if they qualify for this much-needed extra help."

It has worked out that a single parent with two children, for example, who previously just missed out on getting any help towards paying the rent could now be entitled to housing benefit of up to �21.58 a week.

The rule change also means some parents already receiving housing benefit will automatically see the amount they are entitled to go up, and more people will also become eligible for help in paying their council tax bills.

The extra money will be available to help all tenants with children, whether they live in council housing, housing association property, or private rented accommodation.

The rules changed on Monday November 2 when income from child benefit was no longer be taken into account when it comes to calculating entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Uttlesford CAB can be contacted on 0844 477 5986 and the Benefits Department of Uttlesford District Council on 01799 510510.

The Uttlesford CAB has offices in Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow and an outreach service in Thaxted.