New Rules Could Force Thousands of Disabled People Out of Their Homes

Up to 108,000 disabled people could be forced to move under the government’s crackdown on benefit payments – in a move which could end up costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds, the National Housing Federation has warned. Ministers plan to penalise households deemed to be ‘under occupying’ social homes by slashing their housing benefit - in a drive to free up bigger properties by making them too expensive for people with smaller families to afford. But people with disabilities will be one of the hardest hit groups under the controversial measures, which will become law under the Welfare Reform Bill. People living in a social home with one ‘empty' bedroom could lose up to 15% of their housing benefit under the new rules, and up to 25% if they have two. The NHF fears disabled people will be unable to afford to cover the extra costs and could have little choice but to move to a cheaper property many miles away from their local area. This upheaval would not only have a profound emotional impact on those leaving their homes, but would also cost the taxpayer more as a result. Read more on the NHF website.