Soaring House Prices Force Workers Into Longer Commutes

The number of people spending more than two hours travelling to and from work every day has jumped by 72% over the past decade to over three million. Women have suffered most from the increase in long commuting, with a 131% rise in those travelling three hours or more since 2004, said the TUC. The biggest increases in long commutes have been in the South East, South West, East Midlands and Wales. The union organisation said soaring rents and high house prices, coupled with the UK's "creaking" infrastructure had led to people having to spend longer getting to work. More low paid workers are facing longer and costlier commutes just to get to work, said the TUC. Read more on the Express & Star website.

One In Three 'Behind on Rent' Since Housing Benefit Changes

One in three council tenants affected by a recent cut to housing benefit has fallen behind on rent since the policy took effect, figures suggest.  The TUC's False Economy campaign made Freedom of Information requests to all of Britain's councils; 114 responded. Data revealed 50,000 tenants had fallen into arrears since 1 April 2013 when the housing benefit changes came in - a move critics called the "bedroom tax". The government said the figures did not represent "long-term" changes.Read more on the False Economy website.

No Bedroom Tax Evictions, TUC Leaders Demand

TUC leaders in Manchester have urged the city council not to evict any tenants who fall into arrears as a result of the bedroom tax.  Annette Wright, president of Manchester Trades Council, and secretary Richard Lighten met Manchester City Council's deputy leader, Jim Battle, to discuss the government's controversial under-occupancy policy and press for a commitment to not evict struggling tenants. The Trades Council says it will now step up its campaign against evictions. Trade unionists are also asking Manchester councillors who sit on the boards of social housing organisations to "resist the government's attack on the poor and support the 'no evictions' position".  Read more on 24dash.

Families and Disabled Workers 'Biggest Losers' Under Universal Credit

Universal Credit - the government's new single benefit payment - is in danger of failing to deliver on its key objectives, according to a new report - 'Will Universal Credit Work?' - published by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the TUC.  The report says that although Universal Credit will improve some aspects of the benefits system, its ability to lift families out of poverty and remove barriers to working will be severely undermined by the government's wider tax credit and benefit changes - with nine in 10 families gaining nothing overall from its introduction.  The report warns that the generosity of Universal Credit is often overstated by ministers, such as Iain Duncan Smith and that for those households who do gain from its introduction many will see any benefits offset by recent social security cuts.  Download a copy of the report from the CPAG website.

Social Housing Sector Not Strong Enough Claims Report

Social housing has become a ‘Cinderella’ sector which does not play a strong enough role in the UK economy, a new report argues. Can Housing Work for Workers? is a Trades Union Congress report written by the Fabian Society which calls for the de-stigmatising of social housing and the opening up of housing support to owner-occupiers. The report says a new approach to housing policy is needed with more mixed rental and owner communities created and the building of more social homes being as increasing numbers of people want to own their own homes. It also argues that the pressure to own homes has put people in financial difficulties and keeps them trapped in areas with poor access to areas with strong labour markets. Download a copy of the report from the TUC website.

More Than Half of Renters Cannot Absorb a Housing Benefit Cut

More than half of people renting - 49 per cent in private rented housing and 66 per cent in social housing - would face financial difficulties if their income fell, such as through a cut in housing benefit, according to a YouGov poll commissioned by the TUC and the Fabian Society. The figures show that the government's housing benefit cuts will not easily be absorbed by renters. YouGov found that 31% of private renters and 44% of social renters said that their income is normally about the same as spending; but if their income was to fall by say, 10%, that it would cause real difficulty. Of those surveyed, 18% of private renters and 22% of social renters said that they were already worried because their income was less than their expenditure. The survey revealed that 39% of private renters and 31% of social renters reported that the stress of maintaining their rent payments has affected their performance at work. Full results of the poll can be found on the TUC website.

Housing Benefit Cuts: Nearly One Million Households 'To Lose Out'

Almost a million households will each lose around £12 a week under changes to housing benefit announced in the emergency Budget, analysis shows. The TUC said cuts to the local housing allowance will hit almost everyone in private rented housing on the benefit, costing them an average of over £600 a year. TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "This cut in housing benefit will make a real difference to some of our poorest and most vulnerable families, and will affect nearly one million households. The Chancellor promised not to hide any hard choices from the British people or bury them in the small print of the Budget documents, but this is another reminder that we are very definitely not all in this together. While the rich have been let off, families are being left to pick up the cost of the recession." A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "It's not right that some families on benefits are able to live in smart areas, which most working families cannot afford, and cannot maintain when they move into work. Read more on the 24dash website.