Making welfare work locally core themes showcase

The introduction of the under occupancy penalty (the ‘bedroom tax’) and the benefit cap in 2013 meant that local authorities and housing associations had to change the way they worked. Local authority housing benefit departments had to implement the changes and, as housing providers, they and housing associations had to work together to support residents and help them to manage their income losses.

The funding provided to local authorities to provide discretionary housing payments (DHP) was increased significantly to help deal with the shortfalls in housing benefit, created as a result of these changes. Not everyone affected by the benefit cap of the under occupancy penalty is able to get a DHP though so local authorities and housing associations must find other ways to help their residents.  

Here we showcase the core components that help local authorities and housing associations to effectively support their residents.