Bedroom Tax Ruling Blow to Separated Families

A grandfather who lives with his grandson part-time has lost an upper-tier tribunal against the bedroom tax, in a blow to separated families. In a decision made at the end of June which has only recently come to light, an upper-tier tribunal judge said that a previous lower tribunal decision ruling in favour of the family had made an “error of law”. The tenant had his housing benefit reduced by 25% because he was judged to have two spare bedrooms. A lower-tier tribunal last year reduced this to 14% because the grandson often lived with his grandparent and he needed a room to sleep in. After an appeal by the DWP, an upper-tier tribunal overthrew this decision and upheld the ruling to cut the tenant’s housing benefit by 25%. Read more on Inside Housing.