Analysis shows 334 Moray households impacted by bedroom tax
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ANALYSIS from Moray's SNP group has shown that nearly 350 households in the region have been impacted by the bedroom tax.
The policy, introduced in 2013, reduces housing benefits for social housing tenants deemed to have too large a home for their needs.
According to the latest available data from the UK government Department for Work and Pensions, a total of 334 Moray households have had their housing benefits cut due to the policy as of February 2023.
Additionally, 754 households in receipt of Universal Credit in Moray have had their housing benefits cut as of September 2022.
Scottish households affected lost an average of £786.84 in Housing Benefit and £709.08 in Universal Credit.
Councillor Jérémie Fernandes (Elgin North), SNP Council Group spokesperson on Housing, said: “The bedroom tax is an unjust policy that exacerbates poverty and housing insecurity.
"It fails to consider individual circumstances, punishing vulnerable people with disabilities and caring responsibilities.
"Furthermore, the supposed objective of incentivising people to downsize and free up larger properties has proven ineffective. As a result, the policy not only fails to alleviate overcrowding but worsens the housing crisis."
He added: “The SNP Scottish Government continues to spend tens of millions of pounds protecting families across Scotland by mitigating policies like the bedroom tax – all while having one hand tied behind its back.”
Moray MP and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross hit back at Cllr Fernandes' comments adding "nationalists would rather create grievance than actually deal with issues".
Mr Ross said: "The SNP group on Moray council know perfectly well that the UK government has devolved welfare and benefit powers to the SNP-led government in Edinburgh.
"It's also the case that the SNP have handled some of these back, but nationalists would rather create grievance than actually deal with issues.
“In contrast, the UK Government is providing nearly £100 billion to help families throughout the UK with the cost-of-living, including through direct payments to the least well off in our society.
“It's also quite something for an SNP politician to be commenting about other parties worsening the housing crisis, when the SNP and the Greens are the ones introducing policies that are leading to lots of landlords taking their properties off the market.
"Their short term lets legislation is also causing huge concern, but SNP Ministers are refusing to listen to those affected."
