There are widespread reports in the media that George Osborne is now considering cuts to housing benefit as an alternative to big cuts in tax credits.{jcomments on}
It is claimed that Osborne had been considering a raid on universal credit as a way of cutting the benefits bill after the House of Lords wrecked his plans to tax the working poor by slashing tax credits. However, Iain Duncan Smith threatened to resign if universal credit was hit and, bizarrely many may feel, instead of biting his hand off, Osborne has backed off and looked elsewhere for savings.
It now seems that he may hit housing benefit claimants instead, the majority of whom are also in work.
Claimants will have to wait until 25 November to find out precisely where the axe will fall.
