Universal Credit Migration Could Be ‘Disastrous’ For Disabled People

The Work and Pensions Committee has claimed 100,000 families with children deemed “less disabled” will receive less money under Universal Credit than through tax credits. It said ministers’ promises to ensure “severely disabled” people will get more benefits under Universal Credit than the old welfare system will come at a cost to those not deemed severely disabled. The committee also raised concerns that the removal of disability premiums “risks disabled people living more isolated lives, relying on unpaid care – including from their own, dependent children – or simply being unable to complete certain basic daily tasks”. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/universal-credit-migration-could-be-disastrous-for-disabled-people-warn-mps-59560?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Poor Households Renting Privately Doubled 2008 – 2013

In both the UK and the EU, in recent years the proportion of households renting privately has increased while the proportion of those in social housing has decreased. In 2008, around 1 in 7 (14.6%) households in the European Union was living in a social rented home but this decreased to around 1 in 9 (11%) in 2013. In the same period, there has been an increase in households renting privately, from around 12% to 19%. Crucially, the increase in private renters across the EU is highest among lower income households. Almost a third (30.1%) of all households below the poverty line in the EU is now renting privately, up from around 18% in 2008. In the UK the proportion of these income-poor households renting privately has almost doubled in the same period, from 1 in 10 households (11.4%) in 2008 to more than 2 in 10 households (21.8%) in 2013. Read more on the NHF website.

1000s Of HMOs Will Not Benefit From New Energy Regs

Tens of thousands of people living in some of England’s most poorly insulated houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) will not benefit from new standards that will force landlords to make energy improvements.  The regulations, first provided for in 2011 but only enacted last week, outlaw the letting of properties with the poorest energy ratings of ‘F’ and ‘G’ from 2018. However, HMOs, defined as homes with three or more tenants who form more than one household, will be excluded. Read more on 24dash.

How Coalition Has Helped Rich by Hitting Poor

A study of the coalition’s tax and welfare policies reveals how money has been transferred from the poorest to the better off, apparently refuting the chancellor of the exchequer’s claims that the country has been “all in it together”. According to independent research, George Osborne has been engaged in a significant transfer of income from the least well-off half of the population to the more affluent in the past four years. Those with the lowest incomes have been hit hardest. The report also claims that the transfer of funds from the poorest half of the country to the more affluent did not contribute to deficit reduction. It says: “The revenue gains from some tax changes and benefit cuts were offset by the cost of tax reductions, particularly the increase in the income tax personal allowance.” Read more on the Observer website.

Another Inglorious Failure

The New Homes Bonus scheme was meant to be a reward to councils that encouraged housebuilding. There was some Treasury funding at first but the main method of funding was to ‘top slice’ normal council grants. There was therefore always going to be a redistributive effect from some councils and to others. Analysis in the Financial Times concludes that the NHB ‘has shifted cash from poor northern councils to rich areas in the south with little evidence that it has boosted homebuilding.’ The FT quotes the National Audit Office finding that there is ‘little evidence’ that the bonus has change councils’ behaviour in terms of planning, contradicting ex Minister Mark Prisk’s claim that it would bring about ‘at least 400,000 additional homes’. According to the authors, NHB has cost £2.2 billion so far – which happens to be 50% more than the annual affordable grant programme. For that money, to justify itself the policy should be delivering major improvements in housing approvals and delivery. It plainly isn’t. Read more on the Red Brick blog.