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Welfare Reform

Exemptions to shared accommodation rate of LHA

4 February 2015

With Welfare Reform back on the Assembly’s agenda, we look at one of the biggest housing welfare changes; the extension of the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to applicants aged under 35.  Ursula Toner explains which young tenants should be entitled to the one bedroom rate of LHA because they are exempt from the SAR.

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Benefits, Private Tenancies, Welfare Reform, Affordability

LHA rates may increase by up to 4% in certain areas of NI

20 January 2015

A new statutory instrument takes effect on 20 January that will allow for the uprating of Local Housing Allowance by up to 4% in certain parts of Northern Ireland.  This is to prevent certain areas becoming unaffordable to tenants in receipt of housing benefit. 

Which areas will be affected?

This legislation provides for the LHA rate for the following size of dwelling in the following areas to be increased by up to 4%:

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Benefits, Money Matters, Private Tenancies, Welfare Reform, Affordability

Social Security legislation update

11 November 2014

Housing and welfare practitioners should note the following changes to social security legislation and update their resources accordingly. 

Habitual residence

There have been many recent changes to the rules around habitual residence recently.  Currently, only people who have been living in the Common Travel Area for at least 3 months can make a claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

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Benefits, Minority Groups, Welfare Reform, Legal

New plans to alleviate impact of welfare reform

21 October 2014

The DUP has proposed a new fund to help those transitioning from Disability Living Allowance on to the new Personal Independence Payment.  

First Minister Peter Robinson has put the party’s proposals to Secretary of State Teresa Villiers.   Mr Robinson believes that these measures will mean many of the most vulnerable people in Northern Ireland will “come out of the transfer to PIP with the same level of payments or better off."

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Benefits, Welfare Reform, Policy, NI Assembly

Group recommends review of Shared Accommodation Rate

15 October 2014

The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Private Rented Sector has published a report, funded by the Residential Landlords Association, which recommends a full review into the operation of the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR).  

Limitations of shared housing

The report contains a number of interesting findings;

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Benefits, Outside NI, Private Tenancies, Welfare Reform

MPs support bill to make changes to the bedroom tax

5 September 2014

MPs have voted in favour of a private members bill to make changes that would exempt tenants from the bedroom tax if they have not received a reasonable offer of alternative accommodation. 

After a 4 hour debate, Labour and the Liberal Democrat MPs came together and voted by 306 votes to 231 in favour of the bill during its second reading in the House of Commons today. The bill will now be given more time to be considered in detail by a public bill committee of MPs.

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Welfare Reform

When can an extra bedroom be allowed for overnight care?

14 August 2014

The latest in a long line of appeals against the bedroom tax has just been heard in the Upper Tribunal in England.

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Benefits, Outside NI, Welfare Reform

Human rights of disabled people at risk

9 July 2014

A new report from Just Fair claims that the UK is breaching international law on the human rights of disabled people as a result of its welfare reform programme.

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Welfare Reform, Equality

Bedroom tax judicial review fails

4 June 2014

A recent Judicial Review of the bedroom tax, supported by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has failed.  This Judicial Review was brought on the grounds that the policy was discriminatory as it does not allow for an additional bedroom where a child with disabilities needs overnight care.  The judgment stresses the importan

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Welfare Reform, Case law, Affordability, Legal

Legal challenges to benefits cap and bedroom tax

6 May 2014

Welfare reform is coming under further scrutiny with permission granted for a new Judicial Review on the bedroom tax and an anticipated Supreme Court decision on whether the benefit cap unjustifiably discriminates against lone parents and victims of domestic abuse.

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Welfare Reform, Legal

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