Responding to Welfare Reform in Wales

Responding to Welfare Reform in Wales

The Auditor General for Wales published its Local Government report Managing the Impact of Welfare Reform Changes On Social Housing Tenants in Wales in January 2015.

 

The Public Accounts Committee undertook an inquiry to consider how the changes to Housing Benefit introduced by the UK Government’s welfare-reform programme, impacted on local authorities and housing associations in Wales, and how they are addressing the challenges they face. The Welfare Reform Act 2012 heralds a significant change to the administration and distribution of benefits and will have a major impact on many citizens. In April 2011, the UK Government embarked on a programme of reform, which will culminate with the phased introduction of Universal Credit between October 2013 and 2017. A major focus of the UK Government’s plans are changes to Housing Benefit, aimed at reducing annual expenditure by around £2.3 billion. These changes will mean that millions of households in Great Britain will receive less in benefits, creating hard choices for them about how they use their money and manage financially on a day-to-day basis. In recent years, the numbers claiming Housing Benefit in Great Britain have increased significantly.

Business type: Committee Inquiry

Reason considered: Senedd Business;

Status: Complete

First published: 19/03/2015

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