Government set to claw back money from council tenants

11.15.50pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 18th Oct 2009

Chris Maines is opposing Government plans to take money from the worst off council tenants

Lewisham's Liberal Democrat councillors have slammed Government proposals to make some of the poorest tenants in the borough nearly £800 a year worse off.

At the moment, families receiving Local Housing Allowance (LHA) are able to keep up to £15 a week if they choose a home with a rent below the Local Housing Allowance maximum for their area. Labour ministers now propose removing this £15 a week payment from April 2010.

In Lewisham, 3768 households are able to keep the excess money - meaning that some of the poorest tenants in the borough could have up to £3m a year clawed back by the Government.

Cllr Chris Maines, Liberal Democrat group leader on Lewisham Council, said: "£15 a week may be small change to ministers, but for families struggling to make ends meet it is incredibly important.

"The Government has a track record in secretly raising taxes for the poorest, most vulnerable people in our society. Now they are planning to abruptly take away a vital source of their income.

"Gordon Brown has once again abandoned the people who need the most help."