We understand everyone is feeling the extra pressure because of increased bills and living costs. We have put together some resources that you may find helpful over the coming months. Please get in touch with us as soon as you can, if you know paying your rent will be a problem.
How can we help
There are several ways we can help and support you, with a summary of these below, but there are others. The most important step to take is to talk to us so that we can tell you what support might be available.
- Our Financial Inclusion team can help you review your income and expenditure and offer advice on ways to maximise your income.
- Our support fund – this is open to all residents and shared owners who find themselves struggling financially. It provides temporary relief from genuine hardship and is not intended as a means of long-term support. There are specific criteria that need to be met.
The administration and issuing of the above funds will be at our discretion and on a case-by-case.
For advice about your benefits, call 0300 3300 900, selecting options 3, 4 and 1 or dialling extension number 7305 when prompted. Alternatively, email myadvice@havebury.com.
Your income and what you spend
Do you know how much you are spending vs how much money you bring home? You can use our income and expenditure form to record everything that goes in and comes out.
This form may be useful for you to revisit your weekly/monthly budgeting.
Advice about benefits
For advice about your benefits, call 0300 3300 900, selecting options 3, 4 and 1 or dialling extension 7305 when prompted. Alternatively, email myadvice@havebury.com.
If you are looking for further guidance about the move from tax credits to universal credit (also known as ‘Managed Migration’), you can read this handy leaflet. If you need any further help, please get in contact with our Financial Inclusion team using the contact details above.
Further guidance
Universal credit (UC)
Universal credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It is paid monthly and you may be eligible if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.
If you need help understanding universal credit (UC)- from making a claim, checking if you’re eligible, or to check you are receiving the right amount you can find useful information on the government website here or by calling the universal credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Alternatively, you can speak to our Financial Inclusion team by calling 0300 3300 900, selecting options 3, 4 and 1 or dial extension 7305 when prompted. You can also send the team an email on myadvice@havebury.com
You can check your rent account and contact us by downloading and using the myHavebury app.
Non-dependents
Do you live with a non-dependent, such as a grown-up child or an elderly relative? Make sure you’re claiming all the benefits to which you’re entitled.
A non-dependant is a person who lives with you but is not liable for paying rent under a formal arrangement.
If you live with a non-dependant your housing benefit, universal credit housing element and council tax reduction may be reduced through rules on non-dependant deductions. In universal credit these are called housing cost contributions.
Who counts as a non-dependant?
A non-dependant is a person who:
- resides with you; and
- is over 18; and
- is not your partner or dependent child; and
- is not liable for paying the rent (or council tax for council tax support/reduction)
Universal credit
Under universal credit rules, there is a flat rate contribution (deduction) each month regardless of the non-dependant’s income, for 2023/24 this is £85.73 a month.
There will be no contribution expected of non-dependants who are under 21, there will also be no contribution expected of non-dependants who are 21 or over and:
- receiving pension credit
- receiving the care component of disability living allowance at the middle or highest rate
- receiving the daily living component of personal independence payment
- receiving attendance allowance
- receiving carer’s allowance
- the primary carer for a child aged 4 or under
Housing benefit
When calculating housing benefit, the rate of non-dependant deduction depends on whether the non-dependant is a student or claims benefits (and which one), or works more than 16 hours a week and, if so, their gross income.
You can find out more about what this may mean for you and further information about exemptions here.
Benefit cap
The benefit cap is a limit on the total amount of benefit you can get. It applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached state pension age.
The benefit cap is:
- £384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) if you’re in a couple
- £384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) if you’re a single parent and your children live with you
- £257.69 per week (£13,400 a year) if you’re a single adult
When the benefit cap affects your universal credit payments
The benefit cap might not affect your universal credit payments for up to nine months. This is called the ‘grace period’.
You’ll get the grace period if all of the following are true:
You’re claiming universal credit because you stopped working or your earnings went down.
You’re now earning less than £658 a month.
In each of the 12 months before your earnings went down or you stopped working, you earned the same as or more than the earnings threshold (this was £617 up to 11 April 2022 and is £658 from 12 April 2021)
Find out if you are affected the by the benefit cap.
Changes for older people
The benefits system for couples where one partner is of state pension age.
In most cases, these couples cannot make a new claim for housing benefit or pension credit. Instead, they will need to claim universal credit if they require help with their housing costs.
Those with existing claims will continue to be protected if there is no break in their claims. In addition, some exemptions do apply; for example, if you are on pension credit and you move local authority.
A couple’s housing benefit may also be terminated once the older partner reaches state retirement age.
What should I do?
Each case is unique, and our benefits advisors can advise you on your own personal circumstances. Call 0300 3300 900, selecting options 3, 4 and 1 or dial extension number 7305 when prompted to speak to one of our team. Or you can email myadvice@havebury.com