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| 'Bedroom tax' will hit single parents and disabled people hardest | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Nearly a quarter of those due to be affected by the so-called "spare bedroom tax" will be single parents, according to new research. | Nearly a quarter of those due to be affected by the so-called "spare bedroom tax" will be single parents, according to new research. |
| Government figures show that 150,000 of the 660,000 people expected to have their benefits reduced because they have at least one unused room are lone parents under 60, Labour claim. | Government figures show that 150,000 of the 660,000 people expected to have their benefits reduced because they have at least one unused room are lone parents under 60, Labour claim. |
| The average amount taken from each person per week is £13, which amounts to £676 a year, according to the party's analysis. | The average amount taken from each person per week is £13, which amounts to £676 a year, according to the party's analysis. |
| The claim comes amid new concerns that disabled people will also be disproportionately affected by the change in benefit rules, due to be introduced in April. | The claim comes amid new concerns that disabled people will also be disproportionately affected by the change in benefit rules, due to be introduced in April. |
| New rules state that housing benefit and universal credit claimants deemed to have one unused bedroom in their council or housing association home will lose 14% of their housing benefit and those with two or more will lose 25%. | New rules state that housing benefit and universal credit claimants deemed to have one unused bedroom in their council or housing association home will lose 14% of their housing benefit and those with two or more will lose 25%. |
| The Department for Work and Pensions estimates that 660,000 people living in social housing will lose an average of £728 per year as a result of the change. | The Department for Work and Pensions estimates that 660,000 people living in social housing will lose an average of £728 per year as a result of the change. |
| Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne said: "David Cameron promised to stand up for parents, but his bedroom tax is a £100m tax bombshell for single mums and dads. | Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne said: "David Cameron promised to stand up for parents, but his bedroom tax is a £100m tax bombshell for single mums and dads. |
| "The bedroom tax has now been exposed as a chaotic disaster, but it's not too late for the prime minister to do the decent thing, admit he has got this wrong and think again." | "The bedroom tax has now been exposed as a chaotic disaster, but it's not too late for the prime minister to do the decent thing, admit he has got this wrong and think again." |
| The planned changes will also affect hundreds of thousands of disabled people, according to the National Housing Federation. | The planned changes will also affect hundreds of thousands of disabled people, according to the National Housing Federation. |
| A fund to help people eligible for disability living allowance was given a £30m boost this year by Cameron. But an analysis of figures by the federation claims that this will leave a £100m shortfall which will have to be made up by claimants. | A fund to help people eligible for disability living allowance was given a £30m boost this year by Cameron. But an analysis of figures by the federation claims that this will leave a £100m shortfall which will have to be made up by claimants. |
| David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said: "The bedroom tax is ill-thought and unfair as thousands of disabled people will have no choice but to cut back further on food and other expenses in order to stay in their own homes." | David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said: "The bedroom tax is ill-thought and unfair as thousands of disabled people will have no choice but to cut back further on food and other expenses in order to stay in their own homes." |