the government has this evening published a new consultation paper Supporting people into work: the next stage of Housing Benefit reform

proposed reforms include a 'Transition into Work payment' that would fix housing benefit entitlement for three months at the rate in payment immediately before a claimant moves into work ...

... and to 'build on the example of the tax credit system', introducing a system of fixed period 6 month awards ...

we'll publish a full summary in rightsnet news tomorrow .......

story in rightsnet news today ... Government proposes making fixed term awards of housing benefit: Consultation launched on how the housing benefit system might be reformed to better support people into work

nb - bearing in mind that it's come out the week before xmas, they say ...

'The consultation period begins on 15th December 2009 and runs until 22nd February 2010. This is shorter than the timescale recommended in the Government Code of Practice on Consultation which suggests that consultation should normally last for 12 weeks or more. However, we have consulted informally with a wide range of stakeholders on the reform of Housing Benefit since 2008 and we have put in place additional means by which people may express their views. The formal consultation period has been reduced to 10 weeks in order that we may make informed decisions on the reform of Housing Benefit to fit in with the Budget decision making cycle.'

"...in order that we may make informed decisions on the reform of Housing Benefit to fit in with the Budget decision making cycle"

That's the big one.

Anybody care to guess which of the suggestions will be in the 2010 budget?

"Anybody care to guess which of the suggestions will be in the 2010 budget?"

Whichever appears to be the most electorally effective, whilst requiring the minimum of effort and the least likely to be actually implemented.....

Cynical? Moi?

you and everyone else...

Six month fixed awards for HB - so central government intends to impose more fixed-term spending requirements on local government budgets via the HB/CTB scheme? I can see that one being popular.....

The worying aspect here, and to be fair they offer some alternative approaches, is

"For those in work, benefit awards could be fixed for six months. This could mean that Housing Benefit would be a fixed weekly award that would be unaffected by changes in circumstances including changes in income and earnings."

This is unlike an AIP where a downward movement in income can still trigger a reassessment. In this proposal a drop in income, although presumably not unemployment, would not increase HB.

There's no mention of CTB changes, will these go hand in hand or are they going to decouple CTB and HB? That would cheer up the suppliers of HB systems.

What horrifies me more than anything is that they are building on the example of the tax credit system!!!

Heaping chaos on chaos?

More like good old family income supplement/working families tax credit. These were much better than tax credits becasue, with the exception of one or two changes, most in the six months of the award period (including capital and income changes, and moving in and out of work) were irrelevant to entitlement so overpayments were very unlikely. Now if only tax credits worked like that...

I totally agree ariadne. I had been thinking on the same lines, but it is not what they say! Perhaps they can't even distinguish between WFTC and what goes on now?

I have to do a report for my association. has there been any formal response from rightsnet.

Thanks

whilst rightsnet hasn't produced a response, if anyone would like to share theirs we'd be happy to publish here .... email us: rightsnet@lasa.org.uk