Housing

Lord Freud giving evidence to the committee

January 14, 2016

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Disabled people are falling through holes in local welfare safety net, warn MPs

A committee of MPs has called on the government to stop local authorities discriminating against disabled people who need financial help following the introduction of the “bedroom tax”. The work and pensions select committee’s report on the local welfare safety net – which focuses on England – warns that many councils are failing to

Housing

Vicky McDermott speaking to a meeting from behind a table

November 27, 2015

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Spending review: Mystery over accessible housing pledges

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The government appears to have committed to funding two new measures aimed at tackling the shortage of accessible housing for disabled and older people. Announcing the results of the spending review, which detail the government’s spending plans until the next general election in 2020, George Osborne told MPs that the government’s task was “to

Housing

September 18, 2015

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Housing crisis is ‘spiralling out of control’

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A disabled university lecturer was forced to live in a residential home for older people for seven months because of a crisis in accessible housing that is “spiralling out of control”, according to a new report. Dr Chetna Patel was moving from Scotland to Sheffield for a new university job, but was unable to

Housing

John Smith in his wheelchair being presented with a certificate in the middle of the pitch, flanked by two other men

August 21, 2015

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Disabled coach faces IDS bedroom tax appeal… as PM recognises his volunteering

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A disabled football coach has been recognised by the prime minister with a national volunteering award, even though that work is threatened by a legal battle over the “bedroom tax” with work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith. Lifelong Liverpool fan John Smith was presented with the Point of Light award in front of

Benefits and Poverty

January 16, 2015 0

Bedroom tax five win permission for Supreme Court appeal

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Five disabled adults have won permission to take their legal battle against the government’s “bedroom tax” to the Supreme Court. The five – including Jayson and Jacqueline Carmichael, from Southport – were seeking the hearing after a “baffling” court of appeal ruling last February that the new housing benefit regulations were lawful. But it

Housing

September 19, 2014 0

Council finds larger home for disabled couple… then stings them for bedroom tax

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A local authority arranged for a disabled couple to move from their one-bedroom flat into a two-bedroom bungalow because they needed to sleep apart for health reasons, but then forced them to pay the “bedroom tax”. Croydon council moved Roy Langridge and his wife Tracey into the bungalow on 27 May after it was

Housing

August 15, 2014 0

Forum seeks volunteers for vital access role in £4 billion regeneration project

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A new forum is looking for six disabled people to play a vital role in ensuring that one of the capital’s largest regeneration schemes is accessible to disabled people. The £4 billion Brent Cross Cricklewood scheme will create a new town centre across a 350-acre site around Brent Cross Shopping Centre in north London,

Housing

March 21, 2014 1

Government ducks challenge on accessible housing

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The government has ignored calls to introduce tough new accessible housing standards. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) announced its plans this week for a “radically simplified” system of standards in the design and construction of new homes. The aim is to reform England’s current jumble of building regulations, guidance, codes, and

Benefits and Poverty

February 14, 2014 0

Ministers give no ground as MPs call for ‘bedroom tax’ exemptions

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Two Conservative ministers have refused to consider exempting disabled people from the “bedroom tax”, despite new research that suggests many are facing eviction from their homes. Lord Freud, the welfare reform minister, and Kris Hopkins, the housing minister, were giving evidence to the Commons work and pensions select committee about what the government calls

Benefits and Poverty

January 24, 2014 0

Council challenged over DLA in latest ‘bedroom tax’ court case

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A disabled couple are challenging their council’s decision that their disability benefits must be taken into account when deciding the level of housing benefit they receive, in the latest legal challenge around the government’s controversial “bedroom tax”. Lawyers have been granted permission to bring a judicial review of the decision of Sandwell council that

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