1. Housing benefit reforms: impacts on social housing tenants Lizzie Clifford, Policy and Research Assistant, National Housing Federation

2. Housing Benefit reform and social tenants Social housing context Impacts of HB reform on tenants and associations Preparation for the changes

3. 63% grant cut Near- market rents The context for social housing Difficult climate for housing associations Harder to raise private investment SP cuts LHA reductions + more demand for social housing

4. Under-occupation penalty HB for working-age families to reflect household size in social sector Affects existing tenants, particularly empty-nesters – average loss £13 per week Hits 670,000 households in Great Britain; 50,000 in SE Impractical and won’t solve overcrowding Penalty will affect 450,000 disabled people and 108,000 properties adapted for tenants with disabilities

5. Total benefits cap Benefits capped at average take-home pay for working-age families (£26,000 for family, £18,200 for single person) Due to hit 50,000 households, losing average £93/week Will bite for large families, high value areas, many near-market rents Threatens future development of family-sized homes, particularly in higher-value areas

6. Universal Credit Single streamlined payment Potential threat to HB direct to landlords Problem for unbanked claimants – 13-15% of social tenants unbanked Sanctions may reduce ability to pay rent leading to arrears and homelessness

7. Other pressures Increased non-dependent deductions LHA changes leading to more demand for social housing and less available move-on accommodation for people in supported housing DLA reform – fewer people will be eligible for new PIP and loss of mobility payments for care home residents Abolition of Social Fund

8. What are housing associations doing to prepare? Welfare to work programmes Financial inclusion initiatives Tenant profiling Targeted housing management Mobility/transfers

9. Contact Lizzie Clifford National Housing Federation 020 7067 1074 Lizzie.clifford@housing.org.uk