Cllr Dave Nellist condemns housing benefit reductions

New housing benefit claims from Friday 1st April will only be eligible for a reduced rate; existing tenants will see their claims reduce at some point up to nine months after the anniversary of their claim date.

For larger families the reduction could be as big as £2,750 a year as the maximum rate for new claims will be based on a four bedroom not a five bedroom property.

Dave Nellist (Socialist Party, Coventry) said:

“The government brought in these changes using examples of people allegedly living the high life in Mayfair – but these cuts will affect thousands of ordinary people and their families.

“As unemployment rises, more and more families are going to be pushed into poverty. If landlords don’t reduce their rents by the same amount as the cuts (not a very likely prospect) then evictions and homelessness will rise.

“These cuts are being made to subsidise the lifestyle of millionaire bankers and their bonuses. We need to step up the campaign to force the Tory/Lib Dem coalition to retreat”.