Iain Duncan Smith has cast doubt on statistics showing two-thirds of people hit by the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ are disabled, saying they are based on tenants’ “self-declaration”.{jcomments on}
The Work and Pensions Secretary said there is no “check” on the figures which appear to show almost two-in-three council houses affected by the policy are occupied by someone with a disability.
The two-in-three figure is drawn from a DWP equality impact assessment on the policy, which has been cited by the Labour Party and campaigners as evidence that the policy is hitting disabled people the hardest.
IDS also claimed that disability living allowance "is a payment to support housing costs."