New Child Benefit disregard for Housing and Council Tax Benefit purposes
The 2008 Budget disregarded child benefit for the calculation of housing benefit and council tax benefit (from October 2009). This allows parents getting help with rent to keep child benefit – It particularly benefits children whose parents are in low paid work.
New regulations (rules) have now been published and will be introduced from 2nd November 2009. The government expects that approximately 200,000 families currently in receipt of Housing or Council Tax Benefit will be better off as a result of this change.
Also there may be families with children on low incomes who are not currently entitled to Housing or Council Tax Benefits who will become eligible as a result of this change. Contact the Housing Benefit section of your local council or your local CAB if you think this change may affect you.