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 has said pensioners claiming housing benefit now will not be affected by the Government's "bedroom tax".
He confirmed however that this would not apply to new claimants after that time.
A poll for the Sunday People newspaper found that voters believed - by a majority of 46% to 35% - that the principle of the change was "only fair" at a time of economic austerity.
But clear overall majorities said that its implementation should be delayed for a rethink on how to implement it (52%), that it should only apply if people refused smaller homes (60) and that it should not apply at all to Army families with children away on active service (77%).
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.