18 March 2011
Housing benefit and welfare changes could cause huge administrative problems for Scotland, a consultant has warned.
Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland conference yesterday, Geoff Fimister, a consultant on welfare benefits and poverty, warned the UK Government is unlikely to make further concessions on its reforms.
Mr Fimister said although the government had scrapped its proposal to cut housing benefit for tenants who have been claiming jobseeker’s allowance for more than a year by 10 per cent, the rest was likely to stay.
‘The government seems rather keen on it,’ he said.
He suggested the u-turn had been made because of pressure from the Liberal Democrats rather than lobbying by campaigning groups.
‘There are huge issues about whether the administration goes smoothly,’ he added. ‘It could all go horribly wrong in the transitional period.’
The Department of Work and Pensions has played down the potential IT problems that the changes could cause, he said.
Andrew Parfitt, head of DWP’s housing policy division, admitted the reforms being proposed were a ‘tough message’.
He said: ‘The aims are to encourage people to think responsibly, make choices and be assisted in making those choices in a way which is fair.’
He also confirmed that no decisions have yet been made on whether the housing element of the new universal credit – which will replace all other benefits – will be paid direct to social landlords or tenants.
Jim Strang, chair of CIH Scotland, said: ‘Our main longer term concern has always been that under the universal credit, housing costs will be paid direct to the tenant.
‘We therefore welcome the DWP’s confirmation that the door is still open on a facility for social sector tenants to mandate their housing costs direct to their landlord.’
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