CHANGES to the way housing benefit is distributed will come into force this year.

The council's benefits team is preparing for the biggest single change in housing benefits legislation since the scheme was first established in 1987.

The housing allowance is a new way of working out housing benefit for tenants who rent from a private landlord and will be introduced in Trafford and throughout the country from April 7.

The new scheme will only affect new benefit customers or existing customers that either have a break in their claim or change address. Local housing allowance will not affect customers who rent from a social housing provider such as Trafford Housing Trust.

For more information about local housing allowance visit www.trafford.gov.uk/AdviceAndBenefits/Benefits for a landlords and tenants guide. The new housing allowance benefit rates will also be published on the website in March.