Statement from Dr Stephen Brien – Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) Chair
Published 31 May 2021
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ssac-recommendations-deliver-support-for-vulnerable-young-people-at-risk-of-rough-sleeping/statement-from-dr-stephen-brien-social-security-advisory-committee-ssac-chair
The Social Security Advisory Committee’s report A review of the Covid-19 temporary measures, published in November 2020, welcomed the Department for Work and Pensions’ impressive early response to emerging challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic – both in terms of policy design and operational delivery.
This included welcome measures designed to assist those who were, or at risk of becoming, homeless. However, we observed that the existing exemption relating to housing under-35s in the private rented sector remained unchanged, placing an unrealistic pressure on Discretionary Housing Payments. We therefore recommended that the government take urgent steps to:
a) Extend the current exemption from the Shared Accommodation Rate for 25 to 34 year olds who have spent at least 3 months in a homeless hostel to all under 35-year olds.
b) Bring forward, from 2023, a previously accepted SSAC recommendation to extend the exemption from the Shared Accommodation Rate for care leavers up to age 25 (currently available up to age 22 only). We argued that, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and the fact that youth unemployment was likely to rise sharply, there was a compelling case to bring in this change immediately.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget on 3 March signalled that the government had accepted our advice and I am delighted that these recommendations come into effect today, providing additional support for vulnerable young people who would otherwise be at risk of rough sleeping.
Dr Stephen Brien
Chair, Social Security Advisory Committee