The Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council has written to Iain Duncan Smith, calling on him to cover councils’ costs in administering government benefits in order to protect other services.
Councils administer housing benefit in their local area on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions. In his letter, Councillor Jason Kitcat points out that government cuts to this scheme mean that the financial support from government to Brighton & Hove only covers half of what it costs to administer housing benefit.
Councillor Kitcat, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council said: “We have to spend nearly £3m picking up the costs for administering the government’s housing benefit programme. That’s millions of pounds local taxpayers’ money that should be spent on local services.
“Not only are they cutting housing benefit for the poorest in our city, but they’re also cutting corners on running the whole scheme.
“The government needs to wake up to the real costs of their policies.”
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