Frustration follows delay to benefit system change

The Department of Social Security was on the brink of introducing a series of proposals to housing benefit as part of a "Simplification and Improvement Project".

But it has emerged that the conclusions of the project are not now expected until the publication of the housing Green Paper at the earliest.

Last month the project was set to recommend a re-drafting of the controversial single room rent to give a higher level of entitlement to single people under 25 (Housing Today issue 116). Other proposals would have softened the harsher aspects of local reference rents, and non-dependent deductions.

But just as the department was about to announce its conclusions, the project was overtaken by the unexpected announcement of the forthcoming housing green paper.

The delay, which could put back the implementation of the changes by another year, has frustrated housing campaigners who claim the improvements are urgently needed.

Local Government Association head of housing group Paul Lautman, who has been closely involved in the project, said: "Work is continuing but I don't think any decisions will now be made in advance of the green paper."

He added: "We are disappointed that some of the harshest aspects of the current benefit scheme don't appear to be likely to be addressed as early as we would have liked."

National Housing Federation chief executive Jim Coulter said he was worried that the government had "wasted an opportunity to make changes that were justified and necessary."

He added: "The issue of simplifying housing benefit administration and improving it is far more urgent than policy which would follow from the green paper.

"If you constantly put back changes of this kind until you sort out housing benefit then nothing will ever change."

Shelter policy officer Matthew Waters said: "If this is true it would be great shame. There was an opportunity to iron out some of the rough edges of the system."