If both you and your partner are of working age and
living in social housing, in certain circumstances the amount of
housing benefit can be subject to an "under occupancy deduction",
which is also known as "the bedroom tax". The bedroom tax came into
effect in April 2013 as part of the DWP's package of benefit cuts
made under the Welfare reform Act 2012.
The bedroom tax is a reduction in housing benefit
where you have one or more bedrooms than the number that the law
says you need. The number of bedrooms you need is worked out
according to the people who occupy the house, which includes not
only the people you claim housing benefit for, but also other
people who may live in the house, for example adult relatives
(other than your partner) or lodgers.
If your house has more bedrooms than the number
allowed, and you are under pension credit age, then the amount of
housing benefit that you can get would be reduced (but see below
for who willbe exempt).
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