Renfrewshire residents warned to prepare for benefit changes
Hundreds of people across Renfrewshire are being urged to start preparing now for changes that will cut their housing benefit.
Last year the UK government announced changes to Rent Allowance and Local Housing Allowance which will affect the amount of Housing Benefit people who rent from private landlords receive.
Around 1500 people across the area will find themselves receiving less money when these changes come into effect in January 2012.
Changes to the way Local Housing Allowance is calculated will affect anyone living in private rented accommodation and receiving housing benefit.
Councillor Allan Noon, Convener of the Council’s General Management and Finance Policy Board, said: “Although these changes have already been brought in most people’s benefit payments have been protected so far by a transitional period. However this will come to an end in January when people may start to notice changes to their housing benefit payments and will have to pay more rent to their landlords.”
The changes will also in particular affect anyone aged between 25 and 34, living on their own in private one bedroom accommodation and receiving housing benefit.
