Ministers Urged To Exempt Foster Carers from 'Bedroom Tax'

Eleven children's charities have urged the government to reconsider the decision not to exempt foster carers from the controversial "spare bedroom tax", currently facing a legal challenge in the high court.  In an open letter to Iain Duncan Smith and George Osborne the charities claim some foster carers have reported receiving visits and letters from their local housing department saying they will have to move into smaller properties.  While the government has given £30m to the discretionary housing payment fund, with £5m earmarked for foster carers, to help people deemed to be in exceptional circumstances, the charities say some people have been told they will not have access to it and others will not receive the full amount they lose in housing benefit.  Read more on the Guardian website.