Minister for Welfare Reform Lord Freud announced the first allocation to local authorities to the transitional fund set up to help those affected by reforms to the Housing Benefit system.
In consultation with the Local Authorities Association, £30 million has been allocated through the Discretionary Housing Payment Fund - with over £8 million going to London, £2.5 million to Scotland, £1.5 million to Wales and £17.5 to the rest of England.
The fund, which Ministers have already boosted by £10 million, will give local authorities the flexibility to help the most vulnerable customers who might face a shortfall in rent because of the changes to Housing Benefit rules from April 2011.
Lord Freud said:
"The current way that Housing Benefit is administered is unfair and the changes we are making strike the right balance that is both fair to the taxpayer and those on Housing Benefit.
"It's wrong for anyone to suggest that many people will become homeless because of our housing reforms - the Discretionary Housing Payments are there to provide a safety net for those who need it.
"This year's fund has already received an extra £10 million and we will triple Discretionary Housing Payments over the next three years to £60 million."
A further £50 million will be allocated over the next four years, which will go towards providing housing advice, helping local authorities work with landlords and tenants on renegotiating rents, or where needed helping with the cost of moving.
Ministers are keen that landlords from the private rental sector work with local authorities and tenants where appropriate, to agree to reduce their rents in return for direct Housing Benefit payments.
This will mean that they reduce their rents to a level that is affordable to the tenant. In the majority of cases this will be the Local Housing Allowance rate.
In return landlords will receive a guaranteed income, which will address their concerns about non-payment from Housing Benefit claimants and improve their credit ratings.
This incentive also aims to bring an overall downward pressure on rents in the private sector, resulting in more properties becoming available to those on Housing Benefit.