How are the changes the Government is making to benefits affecting you? Chief reporter Sarah Carey investigates the impact it is having in Grimsby and Cleethorpes
THE true cost of welfare reform is starting to hit home in North East Lincolnshire – where it is already costing the area's poorest residents almost £1.7 million a year.
The latest figures released by North East Lincolnshire Council reveal £1,658,370 less per year will be paid in benefits to households in the borough affected by changes to council tax payments and the so-called "bedroom tax", affecting 11,894 households.
This amounts to a total of £586,799 less in council tax benefit and £1,071,571 less in housing benefit.
As reported, from April 1, many who previously had their council tax bill paid for them had to pay 8.5 per cent of the cost – or £89 on an annual bill of £1,050.
Those affected by the change are those who are of working age, who do not receive a disability benefit and do not have children under five years old.
It came into force as the cost of the bedroom tax also took hold – forcing those renting from social landlords who under-occupy their homes to pay an average of £14 extra a per week to "top-up" their rent or move to a smaller property.
The worst hit ward is, unsurprisingly, the East Marsh, where 1,779 households are affected by changes to council tax and 458 by under-occupancy.
This equates to £107,948 less council tax benefit and £215,443 less housing benefit being paid a year in this ward alone.
The least hit ward is Waltham, where just four households are said to be under-occupying – leading to cuts of £1,882 in housing benefit – and 91 households are affected by council tax changes, which equates to a cut of £5,766.
Councillor Darren Billard (Lab, West Marsh) NELC's portfolio holder for finance, governance and support services, said the council's main focus was now helping those struggling to make up the loss.
He said: "Come to us before things get out of hand and see if we can help you.
"We would like to help people as soon as we can, so we would urge those who are worried to get in touch before problems arise.
"We have done a lot of work and we are as prepared as we can be. One of our priorities as a council is to protect the vulnerable."
He added where NELC was unable to help, the Department of Work and Pensions may also be able to step in, but advised those concerned to contact the council in the first instance, so they could be directed to the right place.
Jo Robinson, a taxation, benefits and shared services manager for NELC and North Lincolnshire Council, said it was encouraging 156 people had called for advice from mid-March to mid-April this year, compared to 56 in the same period last year.
She added the council also had £350,000 of funding available to help those in dire need.
She said: "We are looking to channel these discretionary payments to those most vulnerable – to those in desperate need."
The officer said there were many people classed as having "spare rooms" whose medical needs meant downsizing was not practical, adding: "We want to help people in that situation, but we still have to take into account their income, expenditure and what they can afford.
"Some genuinely don't have enough to pay for it."
Share your experiences: Is your household struggling to make ends meet since the welfare reform measures were introduced? Let us know how you're coping by contacting newsdesk@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk
