The under-occupancy penalty will cut Housing Benefit of low income households in Aberdeenshire by an average of £14 a week- or over £700 a year for tenants who are deemed to be living in a home bigger than their needs. The figures were released by the National Housing Federation ahead of a debate on bedroom tax today in the House of Commons, led by the SNP.
Commenting, Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:
"The most vulnerable people in my constituency are being hit by this tax, with the vast majority of households affected being home to someone with a recognised disability.
"This policy is inherently unfair. People on the lowest incomes are paying the price for structural problems affecting the supply of affordable housing. The bedroom tax is also unworkable- instead of addressing the underlying problems, it undermines the ability of social landlords to invest in the kind of affordable housing that is so badly needed.
"This policy will be imposed on Scotland, despite the fact over 80 per cent of Scottish MPs voted against.
"In Scotland we have an opportunity to change, so that we make our own democratic decisions. With independence we have the opportunity to do things differently."
"In Scotland we have an opportunity to change, so that we make our own democratic decisions. With independence we have the opportunity to do things differently."
"This policy is inherently unfair. People on the lowest incomes are paying the price for structural problems affecting the supply of affordable housing. The bedroom tax is also unworkable- instead of addressing the underlying problems, it undermines the ability of social landlords to invest in the kind of affordable housing that is so badly needed.
"This policy will be imposed on Scotland, despite the fact over 80 per cent of Scottish MPs voted against.
"In Scotland we have an opportunity to change, so that we make our own democratic decisions. With independence we have the opportunity to do things differently."
"In Scotland we have an opportunity to change, so that we make our own democratic decisions. With independence we have the opportunity to do things differently."