Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of financial support available to households experiencing financial hardship as a result of the removal of the spare room subsidy.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
We continue to keep all policies under review, considering them against a range of factors, including the wider fiscal situation and government priorities.
The Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy, applies to working-age claims for housing support, either Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit, where the claimant is living in the social rented sector in a property that has more bedrooms than their benefit entitlement.
Easements are available which allow an additional bedroom to support disabled people and carers, the families of disabled children, foster carers, parents who adopt, parents of service personnel and people who have suffered a bereavement.
People facing difficulty in meeting their housing costs can apply to their local authority for discretionary support.
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