Briefing - Universal Credit and Housing

Shelter supports attempts to simplify the benefit system, and agrees that the rationalisation of different benefit streams is long overdue. But simplification must be driven from the point of view of the claimant interacting with the system. Many of the perceived complexities of the housing benefit system have evolved over time to recognise the complexities of individuals’ lives. This ability to respond to complexity must not be lost in a move towards a one size fits all model.