Citizens Advice welcomes Minister's opposition to benefit cuts

Citizens Advice welcomes the Minister for Social Development, Alex Attwood's opposition to the proposed 10% cuts in housing benefit for people who have been on Jobseeker's Allowance for more than a year.  This measure was announced as part of a package of welfare cuts by the coalition Government.  The Minister said that the plans would "leave more than 22,000 people in Northern Ireland on reduced housing benefit."

The latest official Government figures show that the number of unemployed people in Northern Ireland is still on the rise, increasing by 400 people last month to 58,600.  Given these figures Citizens Advice has concerns about cutting housing benefit for those who find themselves unable to get work after one year through no fault of their own but rather because there are few jobs available and the competition for those that are available is fierce.  People who have been out of work for long periods of time need considerable help and support and many may require appropriate training to be able to make the move back into work. 

CAB advisers have already started to see the impact of the measures announced in the Emergency Budget earlier this year on clients.  For example, the cut in the rate for help with mortgage interest payments through the benefits system is beginning to cause financial hardship for our clients, many of whom are vulnerable.  

Citizens Advice is also seeing an increase in enquiries from people who are worried about how the proposed welfare changes will affect them.  Figures show that in the seven months between April and October this year enquiries to Citizens Advice on benefits & tax credits, debt and employment issues, including redundancy, have increased on the same period last year.  In these difficult times it is vital that people have access to independent and holistic information about their situation and how they will be affected by any changes. 

The welfare cuts announced by the Government will have an adverse impact on many CAB clients and the charity is concerned that benefit claimants, and those on the lowest incomes, will be hardest hit by the combined effect of these changes.  The charity believes that it is crucial that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our society are protected in any reform of the welfare system.