A family who moved into a three-bedroom council house after being told they couldn't have a two-bedroom property because they have too many children have since been told they will have to pay a 'bedroom tax'.
Beth Brant and partner Daryl Burns live with their two children in a council house on Osmond Place, Worsbrough Bridge. Daryl also has two other children who stay with them for three days a week.
The couple had applied for a two bedroom house at Ward Green but claim they were told they couldn't have it because Daryl's children live with them half the week and would have to be taken into account.
As a result they applied for a three-bedroom home and took the one in Worsbrough Bridge.
But since moving in last month the couple have been told they are under-occupying as Daryl's children are not taken into account when deciding the number of rooms needed and say they will have to pay an extra £12.50 a week in rent from April because they are classed as having a spare bedroom.
Beth, 20, said they will struggle to meet the cost as she is on an apprenticeship wage, but works full-time hours, and Daryl doesn't work as he suffers depression.
"I am working 37.5 hours a week doing my apprenticeship and that's for £2.65 an hour and I can't have any more hours to make up the difference in rent," she said.
"When we were signing up to the house we were told about the bedroom tax coming into place but we were also told we wouldn't be affected because my partner's children live with us for half the week.
"We didn't think any more about it and then we got a letter saying we had one bedroom spare.
"The reason we've been given is because children we do not receive child benefit for are not taken into account when deciding requests and they are not classed as living with us.
"The letter says we have to pay an extra four per cent in rent a week, take in a lodger or get more hours at work.
"But who is going to want to live here Sunday to Wednesday when Daryl's kids aren't here?
A spokeswoman from Berneslai Homes said customers are asked to sign a document to show they understand how changes will affect them, prior to signing up a new tenant.
She added: "Despite this information, Miss Brant agreed to accept the tenancy of her current home."
