Welfare Reform: Handling the Change

Welfare reform minister Lord Freud has delivered a key speech at a National Housing Federation conference in London.  In a wide ranging address, the minister provided further details on the under-occupation penalties that come in from next April and provided an overview of Universal Credit and the Government's direct payment demonstration projects.  He told delegates that he believed it was not the role of Government or benefit staff to provide definitions that stipulate bedroom sizes and that in "limited circumstances" landlords may feel they can re-designate a property’s size.  He also encouraged landlords to work with councils on the upcoming local authority pilots which will look at face-to-face support for Universal Credit claimants.  Read the full speech on the DWP website.