Alert Briefing: Universal Credit and Housing Benefit

New government figures show that more than a third of private renting households claim housing benefit – but in 9 out of 10 areas support lags behind rents.

1.9 million private renters and 2.9 million social renters rely on housing benefits to pay their rent - 771,000 more households than before the pandemic. But support is frozen at March 2020 levels.

To help avoid a wave of homelessness in 2022, the government urgently needs to restore Local Housing Allowance so that it reflects the real cost of renting.