Committee Considers Impact of Welfare Reforms

The Public Accounts Committee - chaired by Margaret Hodge MBE MP - has released a report examining the overall impact of housing benefit reforms implemented by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The paper is broadly critical of the Department's approach. Margaret Hodge said:

"At the time of our hearing, far too many of those who stand to be directly affected were worryingly unaware of the reforms and what they will mean for their finances."  According to the Committee's findings, significant changes are being introduced without comprehensively modelling likely outcomes on individuals or on housing supply. It suggests that there seems to be little understanding of costs which may be incurred by local authorities.  Read the report on the Parliament website.