New Report Debunks Myths of 'Out Of Control' Housing Benefit System

A leading housing research charity has published a report which debunks some of the myths that claim that the housing benefit system is out of control. Much has been made in recent weeks of housing benefit rising to exceptional proportions but the evidence, contained in BSHF’s submission to the government’s Spending Review, shows a quite different picture. Specifically the report shows that:
* Housing benefit has remained steady as a proportion of the overall benefits bill for around two decades;
* Nearly 70 percent of the rise in the housing benefit bill in the economic downturn can be attributed to the rise in working-age claimants.
BSHF argues that this is evidence of housing benefit behaving as you would expect – employment falls in a recession and more people need support. Read more findings from the report on the 24dash website.