Thousands in Neath to be affected by Bedroom Tax as Neath MP calls for re-think

Local MP has called for the Government to amend the Welfare Reforms on bedroom tax which would hit thousands in Neath. The bedroom tax will see social housing tenants have their housing benefit slashed by £494 every year if they are ‘under-occupying’ their property which Neath MP Peter Hain claims will push people into poverty.

Mr Hain has criticised the Government plans for cutting the incomes of some of the poorest in society without solving the under-occupancy problem. It is estimated that 1,156 people in Neath would be affected.

“The implications of the Bedroom tax will be disastrous for a large number of people who are already struggling to make ends meet” said Mr Hain. “In Neath it is not a case of tenants needlessly under-occupying larger properties but a lack of available smaller properties and tenants should not be penalised because of a gap in the market.”

Mr Hain has written to the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions urging a rethink.

“The current plans will simply lead to a cut in the incomes of some of the poorest people in the country and not solve under-occupancy at all. It would result in people being pushed into poverty through no fault of their own or out of social housing and into expensive private rented accommodation.”