Some pensioners with spare rooms will be hit by reductions in housing benefit under what critics dub the Government's "bedroom tax", the Department of Work and Pensions said. A ComRes poll reveals most of the British public want to delay the tax.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has defended controversial plans to charge social housing tenants for spare rooms in their homes, or ask them to move into smaller homes saying it will help those on social housing waiting lists, and families living in overcrowded homes. A spokesman said:
A disabled woman and her partner have written to a minister urging a rethink on plans to cut benefits for tenants deemed to have spare rooms
The benefit cut for social housing tenants will put 'unbearable' pressure on families with a disabled child.
Bedrooms in some foster homes will be classified as vacant, but the government insists funding for foster carers will be protected.