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| Housing benefit changes distress disabled people, say MPs | Housing benefit changes distress disabled people, say MPs |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Changes to housing benefit in England, Scotland and Wales are creating "financial hardship and distress" for disabled people, MPs have warned. | Changes to housing benefit in England, Scotland and Wales are creating "financial hardship and distress" for disabled people, MPs have warned. |
| The reduction of payments for social tenants deemed to have a larger home than they need have hit vulnerable people not intended as targets, the Work and Pensions Committee said. | The reduction of payments for social tenants deemed to have a larger home than they need have hit vulnerable people not intended as targets, the Work and Pensions Committee said. |
| It said the rules were having a "severe" effect. | It said the rules were having a "severe" effect. |
| But the government said its reforms were restoring fairness to the system. | But the government said its reforms were restoring fairness to the system. |
| The changes - dubbed the "bedroom tax" by critics but described by ministers as the removal of a "spare room subsidy" - were introduced in April last year. | The changes - dubbed the "bedroom tax" by critics but described by ministers as the removal of a "spare room subsidy" - were introduced in April last year. |
| Social housing tenants found to have one spare bedroom have had their housing benefit reduced by 14%. Those with two or more spare bedrooms have had reductions of 25%. | Social housing tenants found to have one spare bedroom have had their housing benefit reduced by 14%. Those with two or more spare bedrooms have had reductions of 25%. |
| 'Better use' | 'Better use' |
| Ministers say the policy frees up larger homes and saves the taxpayer £1m a day. | Ministers say the policy frees up larger homes and saves the taxpayer £1m a day. |
| In its report, the committee urged the government to exempt anyone whose home had been adapted to help them with their disability. | In its report, the committee urged the government to exempt anyone whose home had been adapted to help them with their disability. |
| Chairwoman, Labour MP Dame Anne Begg, said: "The government has reformed the housing cost support system with the aim of reducing benefit expenditure and incentivising people to enter work. | Chairwoman, Labour MP Dame Anne Begg, said: "The government has reformed the housing cost support system with the aim of reducing benefit expenditure and incentivising people to enter work. |
| "But vulnerable groups who were not the intended targets of the reforms and are not able to respond by moving house or finding a job are suffering as a result. | "But vulnerable groups who were not the intended targets of the reforms and are not able to respond by moving house or finding a job are suffering as a result. |
| "The government's reforms are causing severe financial hardship and distress to vulnerable groups, including disabled people." | "The government's reforms are causing severe financial hardship and distress to vulnerable groups, including disabled people." |
| She added: "Using housing stock more efficiently and reducing overcrowding are understandable goals." | She added: "Using housing stock more efficiently and reducing overcrowding are understandable goals." |
| Dame Anne added that between 60% and 70% of homes affected by the change contained "somebody with a disability, and many of these people will not be able to move home easily due to their disability". | Dame Anne added that between 60% and 70% of homes affected by the change contained "somebody with a disability, and many of these people will not be able to move home easily due to their disability". |
| She said: "So, they have to remain in their homes with no option but to have their housing benefit reduced." | She said: "So, they have to remain in their homes with no option but to have their housing benefit reduced." |
| But a Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "Our reforms are necessary to restore fairness to the system and make a better use of social housing. Unreformed, the housing benefit bill would have grown to £26bn in 2013-14. | But a Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "Our reforms are necessary to restore fairness to the system and make a better use of social housing. Unreformed, the housing benefit bill would have grown to £26bn in 2013-14. |
| "We have given councils £345m since reforms came in last year to support vulnerable groups, especially disabled people. | "We have given councils £345m since reforms came in last year to support vulnerable groups, especially disabled people. |
| "The removal of the spare room subsidy means we still pay the majority of most claimants' rent. But we are saving the taxpayer £1m a day which was being paid for extra bedrooms and are freeing up bigger homes for people forced to live in cramped, overcrowded accommodation." | "The removal of the spare room subsidy means we still pay the majority of most claimants' rent. But we are saving the taxpayer £1m a day which was being paid for extra bedrooms and are freeing up bigger homes for people forced to live in cramped, overcrowded accommodation." |
| For Labour, Rachel Reeves, shadow work and pensions secretary, said: 'It's completely unfair that so many are charged for the space they use to store essential medical equipment such as dialysis machines." | For Labour, Rachel Reeves, shadow work and pensions secretary, said: 'It's completely unfair that so many are charged for the space they use to store essential medical equipment such as dialysis machines." |
| BBC research published earlier this week suggested that about 6% of social housing tenants affected by the changes to benefits had moved home since last April. | BBC research published earlier this week suggested that about 6% of social housing tenants affected by the changes to benefits had moved home since last April. |