British government defends welfare cuts and institutes spare bedroom tax

Finance minister and Work and Pensions Secretary say new welfare cuts will encourage more Britons to work.

Al Jazeera
British government defends welfare cuts

Oh, and then there is the spare bedroom tax that's going into effect today, too. And this is no April Fool's prank, either. Official notice below.

National Housing Federation (UK)

Bedroom Tax

Find out more about the bedroom tax, the part of welfare reform that will cut the amount of benefit that people can get if they are considered to have a spare bedroom.

 Welfare reforms will cut the amount of benefit that people can get if they are deemed to have a spare bedroom in their council or housing association home. This measure will apply from 1 April 2013 to tenants of working age.

The power to do this is contained in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and is commonly referred to as the bedroom tax, size criteria or under-occupation penalty.

What do the changes mean?

The size criteria in the social rented sector will restrict housing benefit to allow for one bedroom for each person or couple living as part of the household, with the following exceptions: 

• Children under 16 of same gender expected to share
• Children under 10 expected to share regardless of gender
• Disabled tenant or partner who needs non resident overnight carer will be allowed an extra bedroom

The British government has lost its marbles. This is really crazy stuff.