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Housing benefit changes legal test to begin at High Court | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A legal test is set to begin into the government's decision to cut housing benefit for recipients living in properties that have a spare room. | A legal test is set to begin into the government's decision to cut housing benefit for recipients living in properties that have a spare room. |
The move - dubbed a "bedroom tax" by critics - will be challenged at the High Court by a group of disabled people and their families. | |
They say the changes discriminate against them because they need extra rooms to cope with their disability. | |
Ministers say they are confident their changes are legal. | Ministers say they are confident their changes are legal. |
About 660,000 working-age social housing households that have spare bedrooms have lost an average of £14 per week since their benefit was cut at the beginning of April. | About 660,000 working-age social housing households that have spare bedrooms have lost an average of £14 per week since their benefit was cut at the beginning of April. |
Human rights and equality | Human rights and equality |
Ten families, all disabled or the parents of disabled children, are going to court to challenge the changes. | Ten families, all disabled or the parents of disabled children, are going to court to challenge the changes. |
Their lawyers will argue that the benefit cut is discriminatory and violates both the Human Rights Act and Equality Act. | Their lawyers will argue that the benefit cut is discriminatory and violates both the Human Rights Act and Equality Act. |
They say discretionary payments the government has made available to help those most affected by the benefit cuts are insufficient. | They say discretionary payments the government has made available to help those most affected by the benefit cuts are insufficient. |
The judicial review is going ahead after the government lost an attempt to have the action thrown out last month. | The judicial review is going ahead after the government lost an attempt to have the action thrown out last month. |
The cut is dubbed a "bedroom tax" by its critics but is a "spare room subsidy" for its supporters. | The cut is dubbed a "bedroom tax" by its critics but is a "spare room subsidy" for its supporters. |
The government says it wants to bring social housing tenants into line with its provision in the private sector. | The government says it wants to bring social housing tenants into line with its provision in the private sector. |
Intended to reduce a £21bn annual housing benefit bill, the measure is also aimed at encouraging greater mobility in the social rented sector. | Intended to reduce a £21bn annual housing benefit bill, the measure is also aimed at encouraging greater mobility in the social rented sector. |