Federation launches 20-month welfare reform probe

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Local Government

The National Housing Federation (NHF) has commissioned a 20-month project to look into the impacts of welfare reform on housing associations and their tenants.

It has appointed Ipsos Mori and the University of Cambridge to carry out the sector-wide assessment - which is already under way - with the final report to be published in spring 2014.

The first phase of the research will involve an online survey of all Federation members, due to go live in mid-September, and will contribute to the evidence it has already gathered about the impacts on the ground.

The Welfare Reform Act brings major changes in the way benefit to cover housing costs is calculated and paid, including size criteria for the calculation of housing benefit for all working age tenants in the social sector, and an overall cap on household benefits across all tenures – both from April 2013.

Separately, from October 2013, working-age benefits will be rolled into a single Universal Credit, which will be paid to most claimants directly.

The Federation says understanding the impact of the key measures, on both housing associations and tenants, will be "crucial" to supporting its members with practical advice on how to handle the changes, and in influencing future government policy.