Housing Benefit Reform - Supported Housing

The Government has held a consultation over the last few months asking for responses to their proposed reforms for Housing Benefit for people in supported housing. You can find out more about the consultation here.

Currently some people in supported housing receive extra money through their Housing Benefit to help with the additional costs of supported accommodation. One of the key changes put forward in the consultation was that people would instead be given a standard rate of Housing Benefit and would then need to apply to local authorities for any extra money.

Rethink Mental Illness has responded to this consultation as part of a coalition of charities including Mencap, the National Autistic Society and Scope and you can read coverage of our response here. 

In our response, we call for the following five principles to be the basis of any reform around supported housing:

• Choice and control for disabled people
• Entitlement and a right to higher housing benefit
• Meeting the real cost of providing property for vulnerable people
• Equality and the right to independent living
• Protection of current tenants

Rethink Mental Illness also submitted an individual response, outlining our particular concerns for people affected by mental illness. You can download our submission here: Housing Benefit Reform - Supported Housing Consultation.doc (76 kb)

The consultation closes on Monday 10th October and we will keep you updated on the Government's response and the next steps.