Independent report

Housing Benefit Amendment Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009 no. 614): SSAC report

A report on the Housing Benefit Amendment Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009 no. 614) by the Social Security Advisory Committee.

• From: Social Security Advisory Committee and Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 16 March 2009

Documents

The Housing Benefit Amendment Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009 no. 614): SSAC report

Ref: ISBN 9780101757126, Cm. 7571

PDF, 323 KB, 54 pages

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Details

The government referred proposals concerning the draft Housing Benefit Amendment Regulations 2009 to the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) on 7 January 2009.

SSAC finds the proposals to be reactive, prompted by media coverage of a small number of cases, and not a balanced and considered response to a problem that is not widespread. It recommends that the government does not proceed with the regulations, as they will have a direct impact on larger families and will also disproportionately affect families from minority ethnic groups.

The report includes the response by the Department for Work and Pensions to the committee’s concerns. The department has decided to proceed with the proposals, though it will extend the period of transitional protection from 13 to 26 weeks.

This command paper was laid before Parliament by a government minister by command of Her Majesty. Command papers are considered by the government to be of interest to Parliament but are not required to be presented by legislation.

Published 16 March 2009