The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) are seeking views on proposed reforms to the way housing benefit is paid to disabled people who live in supported housing provided by the social and voluntary sector.

The DWP recognise that the current exempt accommodation rules for supporting the rent of disabled people living in supported housing no longer work because…

• It’s too complicated to make a claim
• They’re incompatible with other government policies
• They’re unfair to disabled people living in housing provided by private landlords

The DWP also note that the current exempt rules system acts as a disincentive to investment in housing for disabled people.

Overall the DWP want housing benefit to support independence in the community whilst being fair, sustainable and affordable.  The DWP stress that their aim is not to cut expenditure, but to better direct it. Any changes will be cost neutral.

Interestingly, the starting point for the reforms is an acknowledgement that supported housing for disabled people is more expensive than mainstream housing. This is because supported housing is often of better quality and located in more desirable areas than mainstream social housing. Higher management, repair and maintenance costs also mean that rents are traditionally higher for supported housing.

The chief proposal to replace the current exempt accommodation rules is to offer help with rent linked to Local Housing Allowance rates, with fixed additions to recognise the higher cost of providing supported housing. Extra help to meet housing costs for some disabled people may be included within personal budgets.

One of the DWP’s key motivations for addressing exempt accommodation rule reform now, is the pressing need to make sure housing benefit rules fit with the new Universal Credit, to be introduced in 2013. This timescale will dictate the pace of reform. Full details of the consultation can be found here.

If you’re exploring new ways of providing housing for people with learning disabilities, download our Buy to Help brochure (in the top right hand corner of this site) for details of how we can help. Alternatively, please get in touch with us using our contact form.