As a follow-up to our previous article on changes to housing benefits, we can bring an update on the implementation of housing benefit reforms. A challenge was brought to the High Court by ten families of disabled people, arguing that the cut in social housing benefit for residents with spare rooms was âunlawfully discriminatoryâ towards the disabled.
The High Court ruled against the appeal, saying that the policy had been âproperly consideredâ and was based on a âreasonable foundationâ. However it did say that the government had not been quick enough to ensure that families with a disabled child who couldn`t share a bedroom were not adversely affected. The ruling was described as âdevastating newsâ by housing charity Shelter, who claimed that it risked increasing homelessness.
The Department of Work and Pensions, on the other hand, has said it is âpleasedâ with the ruling, describing reform of housing benefit as âessentialâ. We will continue to bring you further updates on changes to disability benefits as the situation develops.
