Disabled Families at Risk from Housing Benefit Reform

Families with disabled children will be disproportionately affected by changes to Housing Benefit due to be implemented in October 2011, according to national charity Contact a Family.

The charity, which campaign for better rights for families with disabled children, is concerned that families already affected by existing unfair housing benefit rules, and struggling to meet their housing costs, will be forced into unsuitable housing.

Contact a Family chief executive Srabani Sen said: “Families with disabled children are more likely to be in rented accommodation, more likely to be on low incomes, less likely to be able to consider moving tenancy and may already be subsidising a shortfall in housing benefit – particularly where a child’s disability means they cannot share a bedroom with siblings.

“In this economic climate we understand the need for Government to look at the benefits bill, but they must ensure that the system is working to protect the most vulnerable in society,” she added. “It is not right that families living under enormous everyday pressures should be in fear of losing their homes.”

An impact assessment on the proposed changes made by the Department of Work and Pension (DWP) estimates that all housing benefits recipients will see an average decrease in benefit of £12 per week.

According to a recent report by Contact a Family, 14% of families with disabled childrenhad fallen behind with their rent or mortgage payments and 15% had borrowed money to pay their rent or mortgage in the last year.

National charity Citizens Advice has also warned that the cuts will result in general in higher levels of poverty, debt, rent arrears and homelessness and should be delayed.

The committee is expected to publish its recommendations to government in the late autumn.

More: 0808 808 3555 (Text: 0808 808 3556), helpline@cafamily.org.uk, www.cafamily.org.uk