Local Authority's 'Benefit Tourism' Rule Discriminated Against Residents

A local authority acted illegally when it introduced strict residency criteria designed to prevent it becoming a magnet for "benefit tourists" priced out of high-cost areas of London and the south-east by welfare reforms, a judge has ruled. Sandwell council brought in a policy over a year ago which prevented people on low incomes claiming council tax support unless they had been resident continuously in the borough for two years prior to the claim. Rather than discouraging "incomers" from the south-east, however, the court heard that the policy seemed to mainly affect people who had been born in Sandwell and had strong family connections there, while also discriminating against local women affected by domestic violence. Thousands of Sandwell residents denied council tax support since April 2013 may now be eligible to claim their money back. Read oore on the Guardian website.