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| Court challenge to benefit changes for 'secure' housing | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Housing benefit changes should not apply to people who have had their accommodation adapted to protect them from a violent ex-partner, lawyers will argue later. | |
| The High Court will consider a judicial review challenge to what critics call the "bedroom tax" and supporters call "removing the spare room subsidy". | The High Court will consider a judicial review challenge to what critics call the "bedroom tax" and supporters call "removing the spare room subsidy". |
| The claimant and her son say they need their adapted third room, but now only receive benefit for a two-bedroom home. | The claimant and her son say they need their adapted third room, but now only receive benefit for a two-bedroom home. |
| Ministers are defending the claim. | Ministers are defending the claim. |
| They say millions of pounds have been made available for council help. | They say millions of pounds have been made available for council help. |
| The woman who has brought the case, known only as "A" for her own safety, has been raped, assaulted, harassed and stalked by an ex-partner. | The woman who has brought the case, known only as "A" for her own safety, has been raped, assaulted, harassed and stalked by an ex-partner. |
| As part of a sanctuary scheme, she and her son live in a three-bedroom home in which one room has been specially adapted as a safe and secure space by the police. | |
| Under new rules, the woman and her son receive housing benefit for a two-bedroom property, which means a reduction in income of 14%. | |
| The converted accommodation also includes a steel door and a fire-proof letter box. | |
| 'Life at risk' | 'Life at risk' |
| Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is defending the claim, having unsuccessfully argued at a hearing in June that it should be dismissed. | |
| The government says it has made nearly £350m available for local authorities to help in such cases. | |
| A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said it understood the council awarded a payment to make up a shortfall in rent. | |
| The spokesman added that victims of domestic violence living in supported accommodation, such as a woman's refuge, are exempt from the removal of the spare room subsidy. | |
| The woman's solicitor Rebekah Carrier said Freedom of Information requests had revealed around 300 households are in a similar situation, and 80% of those are not getting the discretionary fund. | |
| "These changes to housing benefit are having a catastrophic impact upon vulnerable people across the country," she said. | "These changes to housing benefit are having a catastrophic impact upon vulnerable people across the country," she said. |
| "Our client's life is at risk and she is terrified. She lives in a property which has been specially adapted by the police, at great expense, to protect her and her child. | "Our client's life is at risk and she is terrified. She lives in a property which has been specially adapted by the police, at great expense, to protect her and her child. |
| "It is ridiculous that she is now being told she must move to another property, where she will not have any of these protections, or else take in a lodger. | "It is ridiculous that she is now being told she must move to another property, where she will not have any of these protections, or else take in a lodger. |
| "She is a vulnerable single parent who has been a victim of rape and assault. The secretary of state cannot seriously suggest that it is appropriate for her to take a stranger into her home." | "She is a vulnerable single parent who has been a victim of rape and assault. The secretary of state cannot seriously suggest that it is appropriate for her to take a stranger into her home." |
| The claim is being supported by domestic violence charity Women's Aid. | The claim is being supported by domestic violence charity Women's Aid. |
| Have you been affected by the issues raised in this article? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this article? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Have your say | Have your say |