News article
Welfare Reform Bill reaches critical stages
17 January 2012 | Topics: none
As the Welfare Reform Bill reaches its final stages in the House of Lords, Crisis has been warning that some of the proposed changes to the benefits system will have serious consequences for homeless people and risk increasing homelessness.
The Welfare Reform Bill brings in sweeping changes to the benefits system, some of which will cut support to vulnerable people.
In particular the Social Fund, debated last week, which is a vital lifeline providing emergency grants and loans to people on very low incomes, is set to be abolished. Instead, funding will be given to local authorities to spend as they see fit, with no guarantee that the money will reach the most vulnerable people. We're worried that this could mean people not getting much needed support.
Crisis, alongside other organisations, has also been campaigning against further cuts to Housing Benefit which will break the link between housing support and average rents, the overall cap on benefits and the housing benefit cut for social tenants deemed to be under occupying their homes. There is still a long way to go, but there has been progress on some of these issues with the Government prepared to make concessions.
- Read coverage of the Welfare Reform Bill in the Guardian
- Read a joint letter signed by Crisis' Chief Executive calling for a rethink on the Social Fund
- Read Crisis' briefing on the Social Fund and homelessness
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