94,149 rented households in East of England receive average of £107.64 in housing benefits

Housing

94,149 private rented East of England households get average of £107.64 per week in housing benefits rising to £165.14 in Hertsmere

As new claims for support are now via Universal Credit and those who get housing benefits will transfer to Universal Credit, it is essential that the design and implementation is right, which it is not, says GMB London

A new study by GMB shows that there are 94,149 households in private rented accommodation in the East of England in receipt of housing benefits which average £107.64 per week. 

The average amount per household per week varies depending on the levels of private sector rental. The highest average is in Hertsmere at £165.14 per week. The lowest average is for Great Yarmouth at £80.24. Last week GMB published a report on rents for two-bedroom flats in all 47 areas in the East of England. [See notes to editors below for the details] 

The other areas in the top ten for the highest weekly average amount per household per week in housing benefits are: Broxbourne £149.01, St Albans £148.68, Three Rivers £146.82, Watford £146.34, Dacorum £ 141.16, Welwyn Hatfield £139.61, Epping Forest £136.06, and Thurrock £123.02.

In England there are 1,114,313 households in private rented accommodation getting an average of £ 115.95.

New claims for housing benefits in all areas can dealt with via Universal Credit by the end of December. Universal Credit combines benefits for working-age people, replacing income support, jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance, housing benefits, child tax credit, and working tax credit. Transferring current claimants will be trailed from next year until 2020 and will not be completed until 2023.

The figures for all 47 areas in the East of England are set out in the table below. See notes to editors below for sources and definitions.
 

Warren Kenny, GMB Regional Secretary:

“These official figures show that there are 94, 149 households in the East of England reliant on housing benefits claiming an average of £107.94 per week. 

“This shows, in the absence of enough social housing for rent at reasonable rents and the prevalence of poorly paid jobs, the utmost importance of this support for working families to get a roof over their heads.

“All new claims for support with rents are dealt with by Universal Credit. Over the next few years those who get housing benefits will transfer to Universal Credit. So it is essential that the design and implementation of this is done right. 

“There is a lot of evidence that it is not right. Universal Credit is used to control and discriminate against non-UK citizens, to discourage single mothers with children under school age from working and to discourage the illiterate, innumerate and those with no access to IT/internet, and it props up the zero hours’ culture and the gig economy.

“People who would previously have been able to claim immediately (if made redundant) through contributions, now have to support themselves for 6 weeks.

“There is the additional problem that disguised cuts to the Working Families tax credits element of Universal Credit is leaving new recipients worse off than they should be. 

“In short, it appears to be one almighty mess that serves only to attack claimants and discourage people from part-time or low-paid work. It is urgent that these issues are dealt with properly. Parliament has the job of ensuring that this happens."

ENDS

Contact: Vaughan West 07967 342 197 or Keith Williams 07710 631 339 or Tony Warr 07710 631 336 or GMB London Press Office 07970 114 762

Notes to Editors

1] GMB Press Release – “Hertsmere top East of England private rent league” (31 Oct 2018)

https://www.gmblondon.org.uk/news/hertsmere-tops-east-of-england-private-rent-league

2] Sources and Definitions

1.         Housing Benefit Claimants in the Private Rented Sector for March 2018 available from Department for Work & Pensions Stat-Xplore database (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/). Cells in the table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Crown Copyright Reserved.

2.         The count of Housing Benefit claimants relates to claimants receiving a payment of at least 50 pence per week on the second Thursday in the month.