Government Focusing On Welfare Not Housing Market Problems

The CIH has warned that George Osborne's plans to cut housing benefit for under 25s is a "dangerous move" that could undermine efforts to rebuild the economy. Responding to Mr Osborne's speech, Grainia Long, chief executive of the CIH, said: “In an attempt to control costs, government is concentrating its efforts on entitlement to benefits rather than the fundamental problems in our housing and labour markets. CIH has already warned that cutting housing benefit for under 25s would be a dangerous move. It is difficult to build the economy without a young, mobile workforce. It would mean that young people would be unwilling to take risks such as moving for work because there would be no safety net for them. It also fails to take into account the reality of many people’s lives – many under 25s will have paid tax and national insurance for several years before needing to claim benefits.” Read more on the CIH website.