Housing Benefit Cuts 'Will Cause Homes Crisis'

Proposed cuts to housing benefit will result in higher levels of poverty, debt, rent arrears and homelessness, a national charity has warned. Citizens Advice also advised that the changes should be delayed, in evidence submitted to the Department of Work and Pensions' Social Security Advisory Committee, who have been consulting on the changes. The announced cuts include a cap on housing benefit payments from April next year, a move strongly opposed by the charity. However, it said that if it did go ahead with the move, the Government must take steps to cushion the impact and smooth the transition for those households affected. Citizens Advice said a delay in the introduction of the new cap until October 2011, or at the very least only applying it to new claims from April, would ensure that people locked into existing tenancy agreements do not find themselves suddenly trapped with an unaffordable rent, and to give them time to find somewhere else to live. Read more on the Citizens Advice website.