January 23, 2013 7.31 am
This story is over 140 months old
Your MP: Housing benefit and the under 25s
Setting it right: The cost of housing benefit doubled to £21 billion by 2010, and it’s not fair that those struggling also pay for those who can live at home, says Lincoln MP Karl McCartney.
There was some concern, from certain commentators, that no announcement was made on housing benefit for the under 25s in the Autumn Statement, but readers of The Lincolnite will know that the government is looking at a plethora of ways to reduce the massive deficit we inherited from the previous Labour government in a way that is fair and responsible to everyone.
The cost of housing benefit in our country almost doubled under the last government from £11 billion in 1999 to £21 billion in 2010, and in tough economic times it is not fair that those striving to make ends meet, also pay for the housing of those who can live at home. In some cases, housing benefit has trapped people in poverty and created a culture of entitlement.
There are 400,000 claimants under 25 who receive around £2 billion a year in housing benefit, and shared accommodation rates also extend to under-35s. These two benefits make up a significant part of the welfare budget, and so it is an area of welfare spend that we, as a government, are looking at, although I must stress I am aware that no firm decisions have been made at this point.
With regards to those who are under 25, the government has said repeatedly that under plans ministers are considering, entitlement would not be removed from those who are already on housing benefit, nor would it affect young people with a genuine need for housing, like those leaving foster care or those with a destructive home life for example. Nevertheless, the government will always reward young people who are doing the right thing and working hard to support themselves if they need that little bit of extra help to stay in their homes.
Please be reassured that ministers realise this is a delicate issue, but that a national debate about how our welfare system works is crucial – any money any government spends must come from somewhere. The government is working to restore fairness to our welfare system, and to give people the chance to work for a better society and to improve their own situation.
Karl McCartney was the Conservative Lincoln MP between 2010 and 2017. He is now the Conservative candidate for the city for the next general elections.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
Exciting news for MyLocal app users and The Lincolnite readers! Our latest update is now available to download from your app store and comes packed with the best local news experience you can enjoy.
Revamped News Feed: Enjoy faster loading times and smoother scrolling that make catching up on local news a breeze.
New Play Video Feed: Dive into a dynamic video feed that brings local stories to life in a whole new way.
Enhanced In-App Browser: Access external links quickly and efficiently, right from the app, without any distractions.
Update your MyLocal app from your app store (version 2.73) now and start enjoying these great new features today!
P.S.: Start your MyLocal membership today to support MyLocal and The Lincolnite deliver you a better local news experience and honest journalism from across Lincolnshire.
P.P.S.: We have some huge things in the pipeline, stay tuned!
Exciting news for MyLocal app users and The Lincolnite readers! Our latest update is now available to download from your app store and comes packed with the best local news experience you can enjoy.
Revamped News Feed: Enjoy faster loading times and smoother scrolling that make catching up on local news a breeze.
New Play Video Feed: Dive into a dynamic video feed that brings local stories to life in a whole new way.
Enhanced In-App Browser: Access external links quickly and efficiently, right from the app, without any distractions.
Update your MyLocal app from your app store (version 2.73) now and start enjoying these great new features today!
P.S.: Start your MyLocal membership today to support MyLocal and The Lincolnite deliver you a better local news experience and honest journalism from across Lincolnshire.
P.P.S.: We have some huge things in the pipeline, stay tuned!