Under-occupancy penalty is hitting people whose extra room is a “lifeline”

The Department for Work and Pensions Select Committee says today that the under-occupancy penalty is causing "severe financial hardship and distress" to vulnerable groups and that 60-70 per cent of households affected include someone who has a disability.

Citizens Advice Chief Executive, Gillian Guy, said:

"An extra room can be a lifeline as vital as a guide dog or a wheelchair. For many people, the need for dialysis equipment or room for a carer means a spare room is essential to their wellbeing.

"Many sick and disabled people have bedrooms which have been adapted to help them to cope with their condition. Moving disabled people out of their houses is not only a potential risk to their health, but can cost the individuals affected and councils significant amounts of money if they need to start from scratch in a new home.

"Charging people extra rather than increasing the supply of new homes is an upside-down approach to reducing costs and at the very least ministers must live up to their commitment that people with a disability are excluded from this policy. To get the cost of Housing Benefit down in the long term requires urgent investment in building new houses. With nearly two million people on housing waiting lists, it's no wonder the majority of people affected by changes simply have to take a financial hit rather than move to a smaller home. At the end of last year, one in five of the clients we advised about the under-occupancy penalty was also behind on their rent."

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Notes to editors:

1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk. You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk
4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers
5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.