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Welfare Minister demands answers from UK Government on overcharging residents.

Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess will call on Westminster to clarify how many of Scotland’s most vulnerable citizens may have been wrongly hit by the ‘Bedroom Tax’ when she meets Lord Freud, the UK Government’s Minister for Welfare Reform, in London later today (Tuesday).

Social housing tenants affected by the ‘Bedroom Tax’ who have been living at the same address and have been claiming housing benefit continuously since January 1, 1996 may be entitled to a refund.

Last week the Scottish Government confirmed it would continue to help tackle the effects of Westminster cuts by committing £20 million in Scotland’s Budget Bill 2014-15 to supporting those affected by the ‘Bedroom Tax’.

The pledge follows the £20 million the Scottish Government allocated to local authorities to add to their Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) budget to bring the total to £35 million this financial year. This allocation topped up the payments in each local authority to the maximum permitted under UK legislation.

Speaking ahead of her meeting with Lord Freud, Mrs Burgess said:

“I am deeply disturbed to hear reports that some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people could have been overcharged. Lord Freud needs to provide answers so we can understand how many people may have been affected by this Department of Work and Pensions error.

“Westminster now needs to take action. We need to know what steps are being taken to compensate those people who have wrongfully had their housing benefit withdrawn.

“However even without these allegations the Westminster Government has a lot to answer for with people up and down the country struggling to pay their bills because of the Bedroom Tax.

“There was no justification for introducing the Bedroom Tax to reduce housing benefit expenditure in the Scottish social rented sector, especially when we see the financial and social costs affecting society’s most vulnerable.

“We know that 80 per cent of households affected by the Bedroom Tax contain an adult with a recognised disability, and over 12,000 children are affected. That’s why we have consistently expressed our opposition to this measure.

“Without a doubt people in Scotland are paying a heavy price for Westminster decisions, but the Scottish Government is doing all it can to help.

“Figures published last week show more than 45,500 DHP awards totaling £15 million to help those affected by welfare reforms, were granted between April and November last year, a fourfold increase compared to just under £4 million the previous year.

“Only an independent Scottish Parliament will give us the powers we need to scrap the Bedroom Tax. Being in charge of our own welfare system will mean we can create fairer policies that protect the vulnerable and benefit the Scottish people.”