Increased debt help need because of housing benefit cuts?

Proposed cuts to housing benefits could result in greater debt help need among the poorer members of society, it has been suggested.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) warned the slashes, earmarked by the government, would affect the UK’s most vulnerable people.

It would see adults who have been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than 12 months face housing benefit reductions of ten per cent.

And the TUC noted such a move would result in at least 194,000 unemployed adults losing nearly £500 a year.

It added evidence has shown disabled workers, lone parents and those who struggle with homelessness are among the groups most likely to face unemployment if the policies are introduced.

Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people, noted the housing benefit cuts would affect a million households and result in a rise in the number of individuals with nowhere to live.

Director of policy and external affairs at the organisation Duncan Shrubsole remarked it is necessary to protest against the changes.

He said people need to show their support for budgets and homelessness grants.

“People will have to go without food and they are going to get more into debt [and] rent arrears,” the industry expert warned.

He added the lack of new houses that are being built is “shocking”.

A recent press release from Paragon Advance revealed an increasing number of local housing allowance tenants are battling with arrears through no fault of their own.

It claimed the council is often holding up the paperwork processes because of protocol.

By James Francis