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Proposed housing benefit amendment regulations 2011

22 June 2011

Introduction

SSAC consultation on hb regulations (Adobe Acrobat Document 120kb)

Citizens Advice welcomes the opportunity to respond to Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC)’s consultation on the draft Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2011.  The regulations would change the definition of “young individual” from a person under the age of 25 to under 35.  If implemented, single people in this age group with with no dependents and who are not covered by exemptions would become subject to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) shared accommodation rate (SAR), formerly the shared room rate) from January 2012.

Single claimants under 25 are already disadvantaged by the SAR rule which restricts their HB to the rate for a single room in a shared house or flat.  The SAR has been criticized as an unfair and inadequate policy since it was introduced in 1996.

We are extremely concerned about the potential impact of an extension of the SAR.  Single people under the age of 35 will receive a reduced amount under the SAR.  In our view, this will limit the ability of thousands of claimants to pay their rents, increasing cases of debt, eviction, and homelessness.