A CONTROVERSIAL cut in the housing benefit bill is saving taxpayers more than
£1million A DAY.
Officials said 500,000 claimants have seen their payments slashed in the first
year of the so-called “bedroom tax”.
Under the policy, social housing tenants have their benefits cut if they have
a spare room.
Ministers said the move is necessary to cut the housing benefit bill, which
hit £24billion this year.
Removing the “spare room subsidy” is expected to save £490million
alone, or £1.3million a day.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: “It was absolutely necessary
that we fixed the broken system, which just a year ago allowed the taxpayer
to cover the £1million daily cost of spare rooms in social housing.
“We have taken action to help the hundreds of thousands of people living in
cramped, overcrowded accommodation and to control the spiralling housing benefit
bill.
“Our reforms ensure we can sustain a strong welfare safety net, and we
are providing an extra £165million next year to support the most
vulnerable claimants.”