Political

Housing benefit reforms set to be delayed by government

The BBC reports a chance of course on housing benefit changes with a longer time before changes come into force:

Millions of people who currently claim housing benefit are to be given more time before cuts are introduced.

Ministers had planned to introduce a cap from next April on how much housing benefit could be claimed.

But the BBC understands that existing claimants will now have until January 2012 to adjust their circumstances if needed before the caps are brought in.

The Department for Work and Pensions would not confirm the move, which it said was “speculation”.

Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes’s response has been:

If the reports about changes to the housing benefit proposals are true, then this will be very welcome. Many of us have pressed very hard since the budget in June for a more gradual and sensitive change in the benefit system. We must await further details, but the signals sound good – the Government is listening.

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