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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Property and housing
    3. Social housing
    4. Social housing rent and other charges

    Changes to Housing Benefit

    Social Sector Size Criteria has changed how Housing Benefit is calculated for tenants in social housing. Social Sector Size Criteria is sometimes called the ‘Bedroom Tax’.

    Tenants affected by the changes

    The changes affect Housing Executive and housing association tenants, aged between 16 and State Pension age, who receive Housing Benefit. These changes also affect tenants in privately rented properties.

    People not affected by the changes

    You will not be affected by Social Sector Size Criteria if:

    • you or your partner have reached State Pension age
    • you live in supported accommodation
    • you live in a houseboat, caravan or mobile home
    • you live in a shared co-ownership scheme
    • you live in temporary accommodation

    Social Sector Size Criteria

    Housing Benefit is calculated on the number of bedrooms in your home and the number of people living there. 

    One bedroom is allowed for:

    • a couple
    • a person aged 16 or over
    • two children of the same sex aged under 16
    • two children aged under 10
    • any other child (other than a foster child or child whose main home is elsewhere)
    • children who can’t share because of a disability or medical condition
    • a non-resident carer or carers providing overnight care

    Households which might be allowed an extra bedroom

    Your household may be allowed an extra bedroom if you are:

    • an approved foster carer who has a child placed with you
    • an approved foster carer who is between placements but only for up to 52 weeks from the end of the last placement
    • a newly approved foster carer for up to 52 weeks from the date of approval if no child is placed with you during that time

    If a student or member of the armed forces has a bedroom in your home but they're away, their bedroom won't count as having no-one living in it. 

    A couple who cannot share because of a disability or medical condition might be allowed an extra room.

    You might be allowed an extra room if you had a bereavement recently in your household.

    Changes to your Housing Benefit

    If you are assessed as having one or more extra bedrooms than your household needs, the amount of Housing Benefit you receive will go down.

    Housing Benefit allowed for your rent and certain service charges will reduce by:
    •      14 per cent if you have one extra bedroom
    •      25 per cent if you have two or more extra bedrooms

    Welfare Supplementary Payment

    If your Housing Benefit goes down due to Social Sector Size Criteria, you may be entitled to a Welfare Supplementary Payment.

    If you think you may be entitled to this payment, contact the Welfare Supplementary Payment Team to check if you are eligible.  If you qualify for the payment, your landlord will receive a payment  If your Housing Benefit is paid to you, you'll receive a direct payment.

    Help and advice

    If you need more information about Housing Benefit, contact the Housing Executive.

    • Northern Ireland Housing Executive

    For help and advice on changes to the welfare system, contact the Welfare Changes Helpline.

    • Welfare Changes Helpline

    More useful links

    • Support if you're affected by welfare changes
    • Registering for a Housing Executive or housing association property
    • Applying for Rate Rebate
    • Check your State Pension age
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    Social housing rent and other charges

    • Changes to Housing Benefit
    • Help to collect your benefits or pension
    • Housing Benefit and Rate Relief for tenants
    • Housing Executive tenant rent arrears
    • Insuring your Housing Executive or housing association home
    • Paying your Housing Executive or housing association rent or rates
    • Setting rents for properties

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