Only 6% of housing benefit recipients affected by the ‘bedroom tax’ have moved residence since reforms were introduced last year, figures suggest.
Over the past twelve months, 28% of tenants affected by removal of the spare room subsidy are thought to have fallen into rent arrears for the first time.
Welfare reforms launched in April 2013 reduced Housing Benefit payments for social housing tenants in accommodation thought to be larger than their need. Those deemed to have one spare bedroom have their benefits reduced by 14%, while tenants with two or more spare bedrooms will lose 25%.
Freedom of information requests sent by the BBC to social housing providers across England, Scotland and Wales found 3% of those affected by the reform have had legal action – including evictions - taken against them.
Responding to the findings, Labour’s shadow work and pensions minister Chris Bryant, said: ‘This proves beyond any reasonable doubt that the Bedroom Tax was always designed as a tax on the poorest and most vulnerable.
‘Trapped with nowhere else to go, thousands of people have had no choice but to fork out an extra £14 a week. David Cameron’s Government have pretended this was all about helping people who are overcrowded, but in truth the Bedroom Tax is a cruel, unfair and appallingly administered policy.’
However, employment minister Esther McVey told the BBC the 6% figure was not ‘a failure’.
‘There has been 30,000 people plus moving in the last 10 or 11 months,’ she said. ‘We were expecting over four or five years for maybe 30% or people to move so it shows really that we are on track.’
