Benefits changes partly designed to cut under-occupancy have caused around 6 per cent of social housing tenants in Britain to move home, research suggests.{jcomments on}
Research by the BBC shows that 30,000 people have moved since the changes came in a year ago – a figure Employment Minister Esther McVey said was “not a failure”.
Analysis of the data from social housing also suggested 28 per cent of affected tenants were in rent arrears.
But Ms McVey disputed these figures, saying her own feedback from local authorities and the National Housing Federation found an "indiscernible number" of tenants were in arrears.
The Government had argued that the changes would reduce the benefits bill and help the 300,000 people living in overcrowded accommodation.
But the research - involving 331 social housing providers across England, Scotland and Wales with Freedom of Information requests submitted to council and surveys of housing associations - found just under 6 per cent of tenants whose benefit was cut had moved house.
Read the full story in the Independent
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