Minister: Benefit Cap Will Cause 'Casualties'

A government minister has admitted there will be ‘casualties’ from the decision to cap housing benefit. CLG minister Baroness Hanham said it will be up to councils to deal with people who could no longer afford to live in their home as a result. She said: ‘The costs have gone up from about £14 billion to £21 billion. That is an enormous sum of money. Although it may not be the largest part of it, there have been and are well publicised examples of people who are receiving housing benefit at an enormous rate a week. ‘There have been examples of high housing benefit but that cannot go on. That is why the decision has been made to cap the level at which it can be paid. ‘Yes, there will be casualties from that; there is no doubt about that. It will be up to local authorities to deal with that as sensitively and carefully as they can if people have to leave their home.’ Read the full story on Inside Housing.