Domestic violence refuges face closure under benefit changes

Women’s Aid fears it lead lose money when sweet benefit changes are envelopd.

Half of all   bemas run by Women’s Aid, a leading UK charity supporting victims of domestic and   informal violence could lose money under Universal deferred payment being launched next month.

From April the Government go out impose a £500 weekly capital on the amount of benefits a family can claim, and £350 for single people, excluding some deterrent benefits.

If benefits, including housing benefit, exceed this level councils will be ask to reduce the amount of housing benefit in decline with the rising limits.

The government will also start to introduce Universal Credit.  Most benefits, including housing benefit, will be do in a single monthly payment straightway to the claimant.

Women’s Aid is concerned that the Benefit Capwill hit survivors of domestic violence who receive benefits for two rents, one for the refuge serve well they are living in and rent for the home which they go fled but intend to return to.

Entitlement to Universal Credit will be assessed on the woman’s circumstances at the end of each monthly assessment period, so the refuge may receive no payment for a curt stay of less than a month. Also, the Government have immovable not to pay housing benefit directly to refuges desire Women’s Aid, which will leave them chasing money from their vulnerable clients.

Both these changes could call back Women’s Aid refuges are under threat of survival.

And the new benefits may not cover charges for services like in-person safety alarms and adjustments for disabled residents.

Women’s Aid owns around half of its refuges and the Government has announced that these will be explained from the new arrangements for the judgment of conviction being.

But it will be up to local authorities to square off if refuges not owned by the charity will be exempt.

Women’s Aid fears this will lead to a two-tier governing body in which some residents and services face a cap whilst others don’t.

Scottish Women’s Aid has reported that women their support will be hit by the ‘bedroom tax’. This core victims of violence placed in larger homes on an nip basis will be expected to pay for supernumerary bedrooms out of their own benefits.

Women’s Aid is still in negotiations with the Government to try and make sure their refuges are exempt from benefit cuts that would threaten their survival.  They are urging its supporters to sign its implore and write to their MPs.

Please do.

A template letter is available on their website.

 

Materials taken from Womens Views on News