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| Theresa May announces major U-turn on housing benefit cap for elderly and vulnerable | Theresa May announces major U-turn on housing benefit cap for elderly and vulnerable |
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| Theresa May has announced a major u-turn on controversial changes to benefits for people living in social housing including thousands of elderly and vulnerable people in supported accommodation. | |
| The Prime Minister prompted cheers when she announced the Government would not roll out changes that would see people living in social housing having their housing benefit capped in line with the private rented sector. | |
| The proposed cap, which was due to be introduced in April 2019, also prompted warnings from supported housing providers that it could put their viability at risk. | |
| Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, she said: "I can also say today that as part of our response to the review, we will not apply the Local Housing Allowance cap to supported housing. | |
| "Indeed we will not be implementing it in the wider social rented sector and the full details will be made available when we publish our response to the consultation." | |
| Her comments come ahead of an opposition day debate on social housing in the Commons, where Labour will call on the Government to rule out cuts to supported housing and instead adopt a new "supported housing allowance" to safeguard the accommodation. | |
| Shadow Housing Secretary John Healey said: “Once again, Labour is winning the arguments and making the running on Government policy. | |
| “Ahead of our opposition day debate later today, the Government has given ground, but the devil will be in the detail – and the funding. | |
| “Labour will continue to press the Government to protect the long-term future and funding of supported housing.” | |
| Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Wera Hobhouse also welcomed the u-turn, adding: “This cap would have hit the most vulnerable in our society, including the homeless and victims of domestic violence living in shelters. | |
| “It is right that the government has now U-turned on this cruel and heartless policy. | |
| “Ministers must now reverse their damaging decision to scrap housing benefit for 18-21s, that risks pushing more young people into homelessness.” | |
| More follows… | More follows… |