Transcript Karl Thomas, Welsh Government

Welfare Reform
Impact on Housing
Karl Thomas
Head of Welfare Reform
(Housing)
and
Rent Officers Wales
A better private rented sector
for Wales
25 September 2013
Welfare Reform
Tenants
 Housing benefit is not devolved
 Responsibility of the Department of Works and
Pensions.
 We have an interest in the impact it has on our
devolved policies/programmes including housing
Spare Room Subsidy
• Social rented sector working age tenants who are
over accommodated will have their allowances
restricted to their household size
• Replicates the private rented sector
• Extra discretionary housing payments - £25 million
across UK – fostering and adaptations (disability)
Spare Room Subsidy
Options
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Tenants downsize
Take in a lodger
Work extra hours
Landlords – re-designate bedrooms
Benefit Cap
1. Change of timetable
2. £500 per week for families (£350 per week if single
and no children)
3. 1100 claimants in Wales with an average loss of
£68.00 per week
Discretionary housing
payments
Local Authority
Blaenau Gwent
Bridgend
Caerphilly
Cardiff
Carmarthenshire
Ceredigion
Conwy
Denbighshire
Flintshire
Gwynedd
Isle of Anglesey
Merthyr Tydfil
Monmouthshire
Neath Port Talbot
Newport
Pembrokeshire
Powys
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Swansea
Torfaen
Vale of Glamorgan
Wrexham
Totals
Government contribution
£160,251
£279,100
£292,597
£1,102,669
£280,840
£324,933
£242,700
£217,194
£242,119
£605,141
£136,536
£124,556
£121,978
£318,083
£343,870
£193,940
£512,845
£451,301
£474,871
£193,584
£219,639
£198,082
£7,036,829
Universal Credit
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When?
Electronic claims
Direct payments
Named individual in household
Calendar monthly in arrears
Tested in Torfaen
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–
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Arrears increased
Financially astute
Rapid repayment
Local Housing Allowance Targeted Affordability Funding
Service Charges
Why?
• Claimant needs to identify costs and
type of eligible service charges
When?
• Universal credit
Welsh Government
(Housing) Actions
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£750,000 this year to local authorities to
support local action.
Bedroom Tax report to inform other action.
“Houses into Homes” programme – £10
million of new investment used in its first year
to provide loans to help bring 450 empty
properties back into use.
Welsh Government
(Housing) Actions
Additional £30 Million
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1 – 2 bedroom properties - additional £20m provided
to help individuals and families that have been
adversely affected.
“Houses into Homes” - additional £10m will bring
around 500 more empty properties back into use.
Legacy – loans recycled to maximise the number of
empty properties that are returned to use