Evaluation of Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy: Interim report
This interim report on the implementation and effect of the bedroom tax highlights problems for disabled tenants where they have a rent shortfall as a result of the ‘tax’ causing a reduction in housing benefit.
The report finds:
- some local authorities have struggled to make long-term plans for how discretionary housing payments (DHPs) would be used when the bedroom tax was introduced.
- concerns have been raised, by landlords and local agencies, that disabled people in adapted homes have not always been awarded DHPs because their disability benefits are counted as income (see http://disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2013/june/discretionary-housing-payment-includes-dla)
- local agencies are also concerned that many people with disabilities fail to apply for DHPs, especially those with mental health difficulties.
- more than half (56 per cent) of those affected by the bedroom tax who failed to apply for a DHP said they were not aware of it.
You can view the report at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/removal-of-the-spare-room-subsidy-interim-evaluation-report
You can find out more about the bedroom tax in our Factsheet F57 - the bedroom tax
The DWP has adopted some of the wording, Disability Rights UK suggested, for its guidance on DHPs. See http://disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2014/april/dwp-adopts-our-dhp-guidance-wording