Government presses ahead with housing benefit reforms

The 2015 Summer Budget contained proposals to reduce the time frame for backdating payments from six months to just four weeks and to cut the family premium from housing benefit in order to bring housing benefit in line with universal credit.  

The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) wrote to the Secretary of State on 12 October 2015, recommending changes to these proposals.  The government has rejected these recommendations and has issued the Housing Benefit (Abolition of the Family Premium and date of claim) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (SI.No. 1857/2015) which make the amendments as set out in the original draft regulations

SSAC recommendations

The SSAC had recommended that backdating of housing benefit be limited to three months, arguing that a three month limit struck a better balance between the aim of saving on expenditure and recognising the substantial differences between the housing benefit legacy and universal credit positions.   In its response, the Department for Work and Pensions stated that it remains “…of the view that the arguments are not compelling for retaining an additional two, or five month period during which entitlement to support for housing costs can be backdated for an increasing minority of new claims to benefit.”

The government response also rejects the SSAC recommendation to introduce linking rules for retaining the family premium.

For a copy of the report by the SSAC and the statement by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions see Housing Benefit (Abolition of the Family Premium and date of claim) (Amendment) Regulations 2015: SSAC report and government statement from gov.uk

Northern Ireland

Housing benefit is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland. However, the NI Assembly often mirrors the changes made to social security legislation in Great Britain.  We will keep readers updated as more information on these changes and how they impact claimants in NI is made available.