[KF] The Department for Work and Pensions has recently outlined its proposal to reduce the amount of benefits spent on supported housing.
In the consultation - "Housing Benefit Reform - Supported Housing" - the Government puts forward for discussion its plan to make the benefit for those in supported housing fairer, better targeted, easier to understand and adminster.
According to the consultation paper, the current system is outdated and unfair - denying support to some people in need (for example people in private rather than social housing, or those whose landlords do not provide car or support) and providing almost unlimited help to others. Under the new proposals, the current system where the total cost of an individual's supported accommodation is met by housing benefit would be replaced. Instead, two payments would be made: housing benefit plus a separate sum dependent on the level of support needed.
A joint statement from Mencap, the National Housing Federation, the Association for Real Change, the Association for Supported Living and housing advisory service Housing Options gives the proposals a cautious welcome:
"We are reassured that the DWP says this is not a cost cutting exercise and that the consultation does not seem propose major changes for people living in local authority or housing association supported and sheltered housing. We agree that there is a need for reform of the system to ensure that it is more transparent and open.
However, we must ensure that the vulnerable, disabled and older people have somewhere to live that suits their needs and enables them to live more independently in their communities in the long term."
However, it remains to be seen if proposals will meet with the approval of those directly affected.
The consultation paper can be accessed here and the consultation period ends on 9 October.
The consultation paper "Housing Benefit Reform - Supported Housing" includes the following proposals: