As the Welfare Reform Bill weaves its way between the Commons and the Lords, there is little doubt that cuts in housing benefit and other welfare changes that have not already come into effect will do so soon. In other words, a lot of poor people are about to become even poorer.
Ever since welfare changes were first mooted about 18 months ago, the government has pointed to discretionary housing payments (DHPs) as a safety net to help those worst affected. Indeed, it is trebling the sum available for councils to hand out to needy families in the form of DHPs from £20m in 2010/11 to £60m in 2012/13.
But research I recently carried out for The Guardian shows that, not only did many councils not use all the money that had available them to spend on these emergency payments in 2010/11, but awareness of the payments among social landlords in particular leaves a lot to be desired. The article can be read here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/housing-network/2012/feb/01/councils-fail-spend-thousands-housing
AcrossEngland , Scotland and Wales
In fairness, they also said demand for DHPs has risen since last April and that they expect it to rise further from April 2012. This is because many more families will face financial hardship due to benefit caps and other government measures, including the new under-occupancy rules in social housing. But it is worrying that many saw DHPs as being aimed primarily at households renting from private landlords, while some housing associations admit they do not publicise the payments as much as they could.
Not only do local authorities need to ensure that the process for claiming a DHP is publicised and understood but, where sufficient claims are received, they should at least spend all they money available to them. It would also appear that housing associations and councils need to raise their awareness of DHPs and work together more closely. If not, the pain felt by those most affected by welfare changes will be even greater than is necessary.
Ever since welfare changes were first mooted about 18 months ago, the government has pointed to discretionary housing payments (DHPs) as a safety net to help those worst affected. Indeed, it is trebling the sum available for councils to hand out to needy families in the form of DHPs from £20m in 2010/11 to £60m in 2012/13.
But research I recently carried out for The Guardian shows that, not only did many councils not use all the money that had available them to spend on these emergency payments in 2010/11, but awareness of the payments among social landlords in particular leaves a lot to be desired. The article can be read here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/housing-network/2012/feb/01/councils-fail-spend-thousands-housing
Across
In fairness, they also said demand for DHPs has risen since last April and that they expect it to rise further from April 2012. This is because many more families will face financial hardship due to benefit caps and other government measures, including the new under-occupancy rules in social housing. But it is worrying that many saw DHPs as being aimed primarily at households renting from private landlords, while some housing associations admit they do not publicise the payments as much as they could.
Not only do local authorities need to ensure that the process for claiming a DHP is publicised and understood but, where sufficient claims are received, they should at least spend all they money available to them. It would also appear that housing associations and councils need to raise their awareness of DHPs and work together more closely. If not, the pain felt by those most affected by welfare changes will be even greater than is necessary.
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