Housing benefit 'savings considered by ministers'

[maureenho]

Housing benefit 'savings considered by ministers'
By Michael Buchanan Social Affairs Correspondent, BBC News

Ministers are considering forcing all housing benefit recipients to contribute towards their rent as part of efforts to save £12bn from the welfare bill, government sources say.

Housing benefit currently covers the full cost of rent.

The chancellor is also understood to be pushing for the cap on all benefits to be lowered from £26,000 to £20,000 outside London and south-east England.

It was previously announced the cap would be cut to £23,000 across the UK.

It is understood that other proposals to abolish or severely restrict the carer's allowance have been dropped after opposition from the prime minister.

A government spokesman said it would not comment on speculation about next Wednesday's Budget.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33353318

[wendy]

I did not realize that all the rent was paid for if someone gets housing benefit.

[maureenho]

It doesn't Wendy, it depends on your income, some people get a little housing benefit and some get it all paid.