{"id":38371,"date":"2014-01-30T12:54:28","date_gmt":"2014-01-30T12:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=6c76099bbba1900cd8548238635a1553"},"modified":"2014-01-30T12:54:28","modified_gmt":"2014-01-30T12:54:28","slug":"press-release-165m-fund-to-help-housing-benefit-claimants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=38371","title":{"rendered":"Press release: \u00a3165m fund to help housing benefit claimants"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This \u00a3165 million builds on the \u00a3180 million funding this year and ensures continuing financial support.<\/p>\n

Councils also have until 3 February 2014 to bid for top-up funds if they need to provide extra support this year.<\/p>\n

The Discretionary Housing Payment allocations for councils in 2014\/15 were released today (30 January 2014) setting out how much local authorities will receive to provide extra help for claimants as they move through the government\u2019s welfare reforms.<\/p>\n

The reforms are a key part of the government\u2019s long-term economic plans to deliver a strong economy that delivers for people who want to work hard and play by the rules.<\/p>\n

Work and Pensions Minister Esther McVey said:<\/p>\n

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This funding will ensure we can support vulnerable claimants and help them make the transition.<\/p>\n

Capping benefits is returning fairness to the welfare system and reform of the spare room subsidy is absolutely necessary to make a better use of our social housing when over 300,000 are living in overcrowded homes in Britain and around 1.7 million are on social housing waiting lists in England alone.<\/p>\n

We are ensuring all working age tenants are treated equally \u2013 as claimants receiving housing benefit in private sector already receive support for the number of bedrooms they need and not for spare rooms.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Across the country councils in each region and nation will receive:<\/p>\n