Government Must Change Rules on Night Shelter Housing Benefit Claims

The Mayor of Salford has called on the Government to support homeless people by scrapping changes to housing benefit rules that he says put night shelters at risk of closure.  Earlier this year, the council withdrew housing benefit payments to homeless people staying in a shelter following legal advice that changes to benefit rules meant they were no longer eligible for such support. The decision forced the shelter to close its doors in April this year – since the majority of its funding was derived from housing benefit. However, with the help of a private donation it later went on to re-open temporarily, three nights a week.  In February, the Upper Tribunal, which makes legal decisions on housing benefit, ruled that it could not be paid to homeless people using a night shelter in Anglesey because it was not legally classed as a dwelling.  Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

HB Rules for Night Shelters 'Have Not Changed'

The government has moved to clear up confusion around the payment of housing benefit to people staying in night shelters. The DWP and CLG have issued a joint statement making it clear that the current rules have not changed after a recent court judgement created confusion around the issue.

A judge in Wales found that housing benefit should not be paid to a night shelter as it did not provide a ‘home’. Uncertainty over how the ruling should be interpreted has led to night shelters across England having their funding withdrawn or reviewed. Read more on 24dash.

Homeless Shelter Forced To Close After Funding Ruling

The only emergency night shelter in Manchester and Salford has been forced to close, leaving the area's homeless people with little choice but to sleep on the streets.  Narrowgate night shelter in Pendleton was left with a massive funding gap after it was told by Salford City Council it could no longer accept housing benefit – its main source of income. As a result, the 28 men and women who use the shelter have been left without accommodation, while five staff have been laid off.  Salford council insists it has no say over the decision, which was taken following a legal case involving a shelter in Anglesey, Wales. In that case, a judge ruled that housing benefit was not payable to a night shelter because the way the accommodation was set up meant it could not be classed as a 'home'. Read more on the Guardian website.