Councils Remain Unprepared For Fallout of Housing Benefit Cap

Local authorities appear largely unprepared for the safeguarding, childcare and gang-related problems that are likely to result from the imposition of the housing benefit cap in January. Plans to reduce housing benefit are expected to lead to families being forced to move to cheaper areas. But despite a London Councils report published this month, which outlined a series of expected implications of the cap, only two of 17 authorities in London and the home counties contacted by CYP Now have any sort of plans in place. A combination of uncertainty over the degree of impact, and a dearth of resources to deal with the situation, were among the reasons cited for the lack of action. The report estimates that the cap could affect 133,000 families in London, although areas outside London are likely to be affected too. A report discussed by Leeds Council this month estimated 9,500 privately rented households in the authority will be affected. In areas where families decide to stay in their accommodation and take the hit of the housing allowance reduction, child poverty could be an issue. Read more on the Child Poverty Action Group website.