Bedroom Tax Victory

[ploddertom]

http://www.welfareweekly.com/disabled-couples-bedroom-tax-victory-could-have-consequences-across-country/

 

 

 

 

Lawyers representing a disabled couple who have successfully challenged a Council’s decision to take disability benefits into account when calculating Bedroom Tax support, say the ruling could have significant consequences across England and Wales.

 

In a landmark judgement handed down at the High Court yesterday (30 March), Mr Justice Phillips ruled that Sandwell Council’s policy of counting the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) as income when assessing applications for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) is illegal, and amounts to a breach of the Equality Act and the European Convention on Human Rights.

 

DHPs are short-term payments people can apply for from local authorities if they are struggling to keep up with housing costs, which can include households affected by the Bedroom Tax.

 

 

Edited April 2, 2015 by citizenB

[citizenB]

 

Mr and Mrs Hardy had lived in their council house for around 20 years before being hit by the hated Bedroom Tax’, which resulted in their Housing Benefit being slashed for having a ‘spare room’.

 

Despite being more than willing to downsize to a smaller property, a shortage in available suitable properties meant they had no choice but to take the hit.

 

Sandwell Council’s policy meant that, due to receiving the care component of DLA, the couple were only eligible to receive a small amount of DHP. This left them in the unenviable position of having to find money to make up the shortfall in their rent – money they didn’t have.

 

 

 

 

http://www.welfareweekly.com/disabled-couples-bedroom-tax-victory-could-have-consequences-across-country/