Call for Councils to Be Given Control Over Housing Benefit

Unemployed tenants who find a job should receive an increase in housing benefit rather than have their state support cut, according to the Liberal Democrat leader in local government.  In a letter to the Treasury Richard Kemp said current benefit rules and regulations were ‘designed to keep people inactive’, and called for control over all benefits to be handed to local authorities.  In the letter Mr Kemp said localising decision-making over housing benefit would save the government money by cutting administration costs. ‘Councils already deliver housing and council tax benefit. Most are now high performers and could deal with all benefits in one place at one time.’ Read more on Inside Housing.