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Accessible Housing and Welfare Reform Shayne Hembrow. Welfare reform - context. Fundamental change to the culture of welfare benefit receipt No distinction – everyone treated the same. Bedroom Tax/Spare room subsidy. Calculation of HB for social housing to be the same as for all housing:
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Accessible Housing and Welfare Reform Shayne Hembrow
Welfare reform - context • Fundamental change to the culture of welfare benefit receipt • No distinction – everyone treated the same
Bedroom Tax/Spare room subsidy • Calculation of HB for social housing to be the same as for all housing: • Children share (some exceptions – disabled child who cannot share a room) • No allowance for disability only a non-resident overnight carer • It will only affect working age people (anyone who was born after 1st October 1951 at present) • HB reduced by on average of £12 per week • Increase in amount of money for discretionary housing payments for two years – 2013 up from £3.5 to £9 million
Bedroom Tax Impact • 35,000 U/O • (20% adapted)
DLA to PIP • Transition from June to early 2015 • Lower component for care removed • Assessment led - -face to face medical • Receipt of DLA is important for many other benefits
What have we done • Whole organisation response • Face to face contact • Extra specialist staff • Help to manage budgets/get extra support
The story so far • People are choosing to stay and pay • Most (all?) can ‘afford’ to make up the shortfall • Few DHP awards as failing the affordability test – postcode lottery • Loss of DLA will have an impact • Morale issue of use of disability related benefits to pay housing costs • Early indications that some are struggling • Barriers to further adaptations as residents transfer
The rest of the story • Not all counties have AHR • Competing priorities - homelessness • More to consider when matching adapted homes • Adaptations and needs • Affordability • Under occupation • Limited time….applicants are choosing homes they do not under occupy (or prevented)
Where next • Securing victory in the pending court cases • Shifting the assessment of DHP to reflect costs for disabled households • Continuing commitment to adaptations if people down size