Foster carers hit by 'bedroom tax'

Hayley Woods has been fostering children for seven years. She lives in a three bedroom house in Oldham, Lancashire.

She has a ten-year-old child in her care and a second spare bedroom, ready to take another.

But from April, her bedrooms will be deemed empty, even though they may have children in them under the so called 'bedroom tax' policy being introduced by the government.

Hayley told me it was a disgrace that the very families the state relies to help some of the most vulnerable children in society, those that have been abandoned, neglected and abused should be treated this way. She says they will be invisible.

She says many foster carers she's spoken to say they will stop fostering, as they feel there is no incentive to continue. Ms Woods stands to lose around £80 a month.

The Department of Work and Pension (DWP) told me, in 2013/14 councils will be receiving £155m to support households affected by reforms.

This includes £30m for foster carers and disabled people in adapted properties.

More: Foster parents and disabled 'will be protected' from 'bedroom tax'

They do not want the so called 'bedroom tax' to discourage people from being foster carers.

A DWP spokesperson said:

More: Foster carers 'may not have access to government funds'