Foster carers and disabled 'will be protected'
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) say they do not want the new charges for social housing tenants with a spare room (the so-called 'bedroom tax') to discourage people from becoming foster parents. A spokesperson said:
We've provided £30 million to councils to ensure that groups like foster carers and disabled people are protected. We don’t want this measure to discourage people from becoming foster carers, and an additional £30m was allocated to the discretionary housing payment budget from April 2013.
The £30 million is part of a broader £155 million budget to support people in difficult situations, and is specifically targeted at two groups:
- disabled people who live in significantly adapted accommodation; the extra funding will enable them to remain in their existing homes
- foster carers, including those who need to keep an extra room when they are in between fostering
More: Foster parents hit by 'bedroom tax'
Tenants urge minister to think again about 'bedroom tax'
A disabled woman and her partner have written to a minister urging a rethink on plans to cut benefits for tenants deemed to have spare rooms
Disabled child to lose her own room under 'bedroom tax'
The benefit cut for social housing tenants will put 'unbearable' pressure on families with a disabled child.
Foster carers hit by 'bedroom tax'
Bedrooms in some foster homes will be classified as vacant, but the government insists funding for foster carers will be protected.