Benefits reform cautiously welcomed
30 July 2010
Shelter has welcomed the Government’s proposals to simplify the benefits system, but has expressed concern about any further reductions to housing support.
Responding to the '21st Century Welfare' consultation, which proposes the idea of a single integrated ‘Universal Credit’, Shelter director of policy and campaigns Kay Boycott (pictured), said:
‘Shelter has been campaigning for reform of our benefits system for years, and welcomes any proposals that aim to simplify the system and tackle disincentives to work.
‘For many of our clients, housing benefit in particular creates real barriers which mean they are financially no better off, and in some cases worse off, by returning to work.
‘However, the proposals are unclear about the level of housing support that will be available, and it’s vital that any new system allows people to access decent and affordable housing.
‘With brutal cuts to housing benefit already announced from next year, any further reductions to the support people receive will mean even bigger shortfalls in rent for households already struggling to keep a roof over their head.’
