Housing Benefit reform: Whats are the proposed changes?

2 Why reform? The case for change What is Housing Benefit? Supporting people into work A move to greater conditionality and responsibility Driven by costs DWP benefit expenditure likely to exceed £125 billion per year (exclusive of Tax Credits!) HB payments alone estimated to exceed £20.1 billion (over a quarter of which will be spent in London; £5.2 billion) £515.4 million on HB administration Housing Benefit reform

3 The key areas for reform Reducing complexity, reducing administration - Will fixed period awards and extended run-ons improve worklessness? Promoting fairness - should HB recipients be able to access housing not affordable by their in work peers? Should HB be paid regardless of the quality of the accommodation? Are landlords unduly exploiting the system? Should London be dealt with separately? Housing Benefit reform

4 The timetable for reform Responses to the Consultation by 22 nd Feb 2010 Responses to inform the March Budget Link to proposals within Building Britains Recovery: Achieving Full Employment white paper Long term reform: Single working age benefit? housing tax credit? Delivered by whom? What do you think? Housing Benefit reform