Simon Danczuk - | Over 3,000 people in Rochdale affected by housing benefit changes

Over 3,000 people in Rochdale affected by housing benefit changes

Rochdale’s MP Simon Danczuk has expressed fears that Rochdale could soon be hit by an increase in debt problems and homelessness after new figures show that over 3,000 people locally will be affected by housing benefit cuts.

Speaking after an impact assessment of the cuts to Local Housing Allowance released by the Department of Work and Pensions showed that Rochdale would be one of the hardest hit areas in Greater Manchester, Mr Danczuk said that the cuts would almost certainly push many households into debt arrears.

“The Government’s own figures show that over 3,000 people in Rochdale will have their income hit at a time when they can least afford it,” he said. “Whilst fully aware of the need to reduce the deficit, I am concerned that the people who can least afford it are having to pay the lions share. We all know that David Cameron was born into great wealth and privilege. Can he really understand what it’s like to raise a family on a low income? Our Prime Minister promised to protect the most vulnerable in society when he came to power but he is putting thousands of people at risk of becoming homeless.”

Plans to cut housing benefits by £1.8billion were announced in the Government’s Emergency Budget in June. An independent think tank, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, has subsequently declared that the Budget would hit the poor and families with children the hardest.

David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, added: “Ministers have said consistently since taking office that they will do their utmost to protect the most vulnerable – and yet the introduction of the housing benefit caps will clearly lead to an onslaught on some of the most vulnerable groups in society.

“The changes could see hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people fall into debt, forced out of their homes and neighbourhoods and crammed into overcrowded ghettos. Many others will simply become homeless.”