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SFHA: UK government should overhaul welfare changes
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has called on the UK government to overhaul its welfare changes ahead of the general election.
The SFHA has set out five asks of the next government, which are centred around welfare policies because the UK government still controls this aspect of policy.
The asks related to housing include alleviating any poverty resulting from the seven-day waiting period for new Universal Credit claimants, removing “arbitrary” caps on rent in social housing, and deferring the roll-out of Universal Credit “until it can be shown to be working safely”.
The removal of housing benefit for 18 to 21-year-olds and the shared accommodation rate for single people aged under 35 should be scrapped, the SFHA said.
The Scottish Government has already promised to cover the loss of housing benefit for 18 to 21-year-olds through the Scottish Welfare Fund.
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A spokesperson for the SFHA said: “Almost two-thirds of tenants of housing associations rely on housing benefit to pay even modest rents, including tenants who work. Recent reforms are having a damaging impact on housing associations and their tenants.
“Recent social security policies have discriminated against the young, with the removal of entitlement to 18 to 21-year-olds and the shared accommodation rate to single under-35s. SFHA believes these measures should be scrapped. In addition, the protection provided by social security’s safety net should be restored by reversing caps to entitlement for younger people and large families.”
Fuel poverty is also a concern for the organisation.
The spokesperson added: “Some 27% of households living in housing association homes in Scotland are in fuel poverty. We therefore call on parties to prioritise the provision of affordable warmth and make warm homes a priority by taking steps to reduce the cost of energy and provide customers with the cheapest tariffs; investing in the energy efficiency of homes, especially hard-to-treat homes; and supporting the provision of energy advice and support, especially for vulnerable people and people on low incomes.”
