Last June the Coalition announced a cut to all housing benefits across the country. Research undertaken by Cllr Heather Kidd has revealed that the Governments projected housing benefits cut will hit Shropshire pensioners the hardest. Reductions in Housing benefit for Shropshire have been calculated by Crisis as around £9 per week for a one bed flat and £12 approximately for a three bedroomed house.
Those facing cuts in Shropshire number 25,229 who receive housing benefit. 5200 (nearly 21%) of these people are working and on low pay, 7,800 (about 31%) are unemployed.
48.5% of those claiming are pensioners.
These cuts will not affect those in Shropshire living in social housing at present but the remainder (12,229) are the elderly and disabled. ‘It is this group that concern me. Many of these are on very limited income and could face considerable hardship if the cut really does target them too.’ Said Cllr Heather Kidd. ‘Older and disabled people are the vulnerable which the coalition says it wishes to support. I will be asking if there will be a safety net if there is real hardship. Many will also be struggling with fuel bills this winter as well and could face a choice of paying for rent, fuel or food- but not all three.I cannot believe that the new Government could make older people face these difficult choices. I will be writing to Nick Clegg.’ Concluded Cllr Heather Kidd.