WELFARE REFORM: the IMPLICATIONS FOR HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

This book is published at a critical time with the government in the process of implementing the welfare reforms that are contained in the Welfare Reform Act of 2012. Many of the reforms were introduced in April 2013 including the benefits cap, under-occupation penalty, the localisation of council tax support, personal independence payments and the universal credit pilots. In October 2013, Universal Credit will start to be rolled out for new claimants.

But what effect will all this have on claimants, housing associations and local authorities and how can they manage the reforms to mitigate the risks that they face?

 It should be of interest to all those with an interest in the welfare reforms including councillors and officers of local authorities; board members and officers of housing associations; representatives of tenants and claimants; staff of voluntary bodies; academics; lawyers and civil servants.

It contains sections on:

• Introduction and Overview of Welfare reform
• Under-Occupation Penalty (Bedroom Tax)
• Total Benefits Cap
• Universal Credit
• Other Welfare Benefits
• Discretionary Housing Payments and Other Welfare Support
• The Impact of Welfare Reform on Claimants, Landlords and Local Authorities
• Case Study: Impact Housing Association
• Specific Implications in Scotland and Wales
• practical Steps to Manage the effects of the Reforms
• Potential Future Reforms