Welfare Reform Bill

Page 1, line 13, at end insert—

“( ) an amount for council tax,”

Page 5, line 14, after second “payments” insert “and council tax”

Page 5, line 23, at end insert—

“(4A) Regulations shall provide that any deduction or deductions to be made from the housing costs element of Universal Credit in respect of non-dependant members of the household shall not exceed 50 per cent of such amount.”

Page 5, line 29, at end insert—

“(6) Regulations shall provide that where the award for housing costs is restricted to the Shared Accommodation Rate this shall not apply to any claimant who:

(a) is severely disabled;

(b) is a care leaver aged under 22 years;

(c) has resided in a homelessness hostel and received housing support for a period of at least three months;

(d) is considered a risk to others;

(e) is pregnant;

(f) is considered vulnerable as a result of mental illness, or mental or physical disability, or other special reason;

(g) is considered vulnerable by reason of violence from another person or threats of violence from another person which are likely to be carried out;

(h) is considered vulnerable as a consequence of previous homelessness, drug or alcohol addiction;

(i) is considered vulnerable as a consequence of their institutional background;

(j) is a non-resident parent and it is considered that living in shared accommodation would adversely affect his relationship with his or her child or children.”

Page 5, line 29, at end insert—

“(6) Regulations shall provide that where the award for housing costs is restricted to the Shared Accommodation Rate this shall not apply for a period of 52 weeks for any claimant who was able to meet the financial commitments for his dwelling when they were entered into unless that dwelling is shared accommodation.

(7) Subsection (6) shall not apply where a claimant was previously entitled to benefit in respect of an award of housing benefit which fell wholly or partly less than 52 weeks before the commencement of the claimant’s current award of housing benefit.”

Page 5, line 29, at end insert—

“(6) Regulations shall provide that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will review not less than every two years the relationship between housing costs in the private rented sector and the level of the housing component of Universal Credit.

(7) Regulations shall provide that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions must amend the calculation of housing costs where this is necessary to ensure that at least the 30th percentile of the list of private rented properties in each locality remains affordable to claimants, in light of the review under subsection (6).”

Page 5, line 29, at end insert—

“( ) Regulations shall provide that it is the duty of the landlord to provide suitable alternative accommodation for tenants of social housing on housing benefit who are under-occupying their present accommodation; and that if such suitable alternative accommodation is not offered by or available from the social landlord or consortium of social landlords, then the tenant shall continue to receive his or her housing benefit as previously awarded.

( ) Regulations shall exclude from any reduction in housing benefit due to under-occupying those tenants whose present accommodation has been significantly adapted to meet their disability needs.”

Page 16, line 39, after “benefit” insert “and council tax benefit”

Page 123, line 17, after second “payments” insert “and council tax”