Housing Benefit Cuts Linked To Depression In Low Income Households

Cuts to housing benefit by the government have led to a 10 per cent increase in people from low income households reporting poor mental health and helped propel an additional 26,000 people into depression researchers from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) have found. The paper evaluates the mental health effects of the government’s reduction in financial support to low-income households renting from the private-sector. Over 179,000 private renters were surveyed, some in receipt of LHA and others not. By following these groups over time the researchers were able to document how the cuts had impacted those affected. Read more on the LSE website.