Data obtained by Hull and East Riding Green Party shows that the East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s fund for residents in trouble with rent has had double the number of households seeking help from last year because of the bedroom tax.
The bedroom tax, brought in by the Coalition as “the removal of the spare room subsidy”, came into effect in April 2013, but by June almost twice as many East Riding families were applying for Discretionary Housing Payments than at the same point during the previous year.
The document, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, reveals that total payouts have risen dramatically from £42,025.76 to £83,938.94, with 250 households seeking help, up from 127 last year.
Bill Rigby, the Hull and East Riding’s candidate in the upcoming St Mary’s East Beverley Town Council byelection, is urging East Riding Council to follow the lead set by Green-run Brighton and Hove Council and to commit to a “no evictions” policy for all those being hit by the bedroom tax.
“This disgraceful policy has doubled the number of our neighbours seeking help from the council. East Riding should carefully consider how they can reduce this stress to families, the elderly and the disabled.”
“With only 10 unoccupied council homes with one bedroom, people are being hit by the unjust bedroom tax with nowhere else to go.”
“I strongly urge the Tory East Riding Council to investigate the ‘no evictions’ policy that Greens have pioneered in Brighton.”
