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| MPs oppose 'bedroom tax' being applied to domestic abuse survivors | MPs oppose 'bedroom tax' being applied to domestic abuse survivors |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The government must stop applying the so-called "bedroom tax" to domestic abuse survivors fleeing their partners, 44 MPs have written in a letter seen by the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire show. | |
| One rape survivor, living in a home adapted for her safety, had her housing benefits cut because of her spare room. | |
| The European Court of Human Rights said her case was discriminatory. A government bid to appeal was refused. | The European Court of Human Rights said her case was discriminatory. A government bid to appeal was refused. |
| The government said it was "carefully considering" the court's decision. | |
| The MPs - from all the major political parties in Westminster - said vulnerable women "must not be forced out" of the safe houses, provided by the UK's Sanctuary Scheme, by the policy. | The MPs - from all the major political parties in Westminster - said vulnerable women "must not be forced out" of the safe houses, provided by the UK's Sanctuary Scheme, by the policy. |
| The letter, seen by the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, said 281 households in the scheme were currently subject to such "penalties". | The letter, seen by the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, said 281 households in the scheme were currently subject to such "penalties". |
| Six-year battle | Six-year battle |
| The woman - who is preserving her right to anonymity - is a victim of rape, assault, harassment and stalking at the hands of an ex-partner, her lawyers said. | The woman - who is preserving her right to anonymity - is a victim of rape, assault, harassment and stalking at the hands of an ex-partner, her lawyers said. |
| She was given specially-adapted social housing designed to enable women and children at serious risk of domestic violence to live safely. | She was given specially-adapted social housing designed to enable women and children at serious risk of domestic violence to live safely. |
| The property included a panic space and extra security measures, her lawyers added. | The property included a panic space and extra security measures, her lawyers added. |
| But because the house - occupied by the woman and her young son - was three-bedroomed, it led to a 14% cut in housing benefits - as she was only entitled to receive housing benefit for a two-bedroom property. | But because the house - occupied by the woman and her young son - was three-bedroomed, it led to a 14% cut in housing benefits - as she was only entitled to receive housing benefit for a two-bedroom property. |
| After a six-year legal battle, the UK government was ordered by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to pay the woman 10,000 euros (£8,600) in compensation. The court found the policy had unlawfully discriminated against her. | After a six-year legal battle, the UK government was ordered by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to pay the woman 10,000 euros (£8,600) in compensation. The court found the policy had unlawfully discriminated against her. |
| The Department for Work and Pensions sought to appeal against the decision, but had its application rejected. | The Department for Work and Pensions sought to appeal against the decision, but had its application rejected. |
| 'Life and death matter' | 'Life and death matter' |
| Now 44 MPs have written to Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey urging her "to take immediate action on this life and death matter". | Now 44 MPs have written to Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey urging her "to take immediate action on this life and death matter". |
| "The government has committed to improving protection and support for survivors through the new domestic abuse bill," the open letter said. | "The government has committed to improving protection and support for survivors through the new domestic abuse bill," the open letter said. |
| "The application of the 'bedroom tax' to Sanctuary Schemes clearly undermines this aim. | "The application of the 'bedroom tax' to Sanctuary Schemes clearly undermines this aim. |
| "So too, seeking to encourage people to leave their homes for smaller ones as this policy does, is also in conflict with the aim of Sanctuary Schemes - which are designed to enable those at risk of domestic violence to remain in their homes safely. | "So too, seeking to encourage people to leave their homes for smaller ones as this policy does, is also in conflict with the aim of Sanctuary Schemes - which are designed to enable those at risk of domestic violence to remain in their homes safely. |
| "We call on the government to act now and create an exemption for this very vulnerable group." | "We call on the government to act now and create an exemption for this very vulnerable group." |
| It added that exemptions were already in place for other groups, including disabled siblings who need their own bedrooms, foster carers and households with overnight carers for disabled people. | It added that exemptions were already in place for other groups, including disabled siblings who need their own bedrooms, foster carers and households with overnight carers for disabled people. |
| The government said there were no plans to abolish its policy on the removal of the spare room subsidy. | The government said there were no plans to abolish its policy on the removal of the spare room subsidy. |
| It said the policy helped contain "growing housing benefit expenditure", strengthens work incentives and makes better use of available social housing. | It said the policy helped contain "growing housing benefit expenditure", strengthens work incentives and makes better use of available social housing. |
| Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. | Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. |