Welfare reform advice available

Orkney Islands Council and Orkney Housing Association Limited are providing advice for tenants who may be affected by changes to the UK Government’s housing benefit rules.

From April 1, tenants of working age who receive housing benefit will be assessed for the number of bedrooms they have in their property, if they rent from either a local authority or a housing association.

If they are deemed to have one spare bedroom, their Housing Benefit will be reduced by an average of £10 per week. If they have two spare bedrooms, the benefit will be reduced by £20 on average per week. The “under-occupancy” rules do not apply to pensioners.

According to the OIC, around 50 council tenants will potentially be affected, as will around 50 tenants of OHAL.

Information and advice is available online at www.orkney.gov.uk and www.ohal.org.uk or by contacting OIC’s housing service on 873535 or OHAL on 875253.