The shocking revelation comes ahead of the hugely controversial move being introduced on Monday (April 1). It will see social housing tenants' benefits slashed if they are considered to live in a home with more bedrooms than they and their family need. Those with one spare bedroom will lose around £650 per year, while it will cost those with two spare bedrooms around £1,150.
Warwick District Council's latest estimate is that 650 households in social housing across the district are affected - 525 tenants under-occupying by one bedroom and 125 under-occupying by two or more - amounting to a total loss in benefits of £575,000 a year.
And Leamington's Citizens Advice Bureau chief Hilary Holland, whose bureau is currently experiencing in a rise in people seeking advice, told the paper this week: “The response to council's survey was that the majority of affected people have said they'll cut back on buying food, which is shocking.
“A particular worry is there's still a fair bit of head burying in sand going on.
“Those that understand the effects still live in hope of something turning up, or being able to cope without any idea where the extra money will come from. We know from clients’ income and expenditure sheets that an extra £14 per week lost will send household finances seriously out of balance.
“And the council have also made the point themselves about there being too few smaller properties even if people did want to move.”
Leamington Observer
