A report from a specialist housing provider examined the combined impact of a range of benefits reforms on people with disabilities. It said that disabled people were most affected by the cumulative impact and that, with local authorities taking different approaches to implementing changes, there was a complex geographical variation, which had further impact on people's decisions about moving home. The report said that disabled people in general needs housing had fared worst in the implementation of 'bedroom tax' and that a shortage of accessible properties made downsizing difficult.
Source: Anne Kane, Christina McGill, and David Halliwell, What Price Independent Lives? Benefit cuts and disabled tenants, Habinteg
Links: Report | Summary | Inside Housing report
Date: 2013-Dec
A study examined the impact of ageing populations on service design and delivery in rural areas in England. The final report said that rural areas faced a range of additional costs for service delivery that made it more difficult for service providers, including health services, to meet needs. It said that there was insufficient appropriate housing stock, and demand for more home-based care, support and adaptations.
Source: Caitlin Connors, Marita Kenrick, Anna Bloch, Sally-Marie Bamford, and Dylan Kneale, 2013 Rural Ageing Research: Summary report of findings, TNS BMRB
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Dec
An article examined the right (under Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) of people with disabilities to live independently, and whether people were able to realize that right through the English administrative justice system. It examined practical examples of the use of discretion in social care decision-making, administration and delivery. It noted that discretion was present in the processes and tools of decision-making, and concluded that practice was not yet wholly aligned with meaningful, Convention-compliant change.
Source: Tabitha Collingbourne, 'Administrative justice? Realising the right to independent living in England: power, systems, identities', Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, Volume 35 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
A report (by an official advisory body) outlined observations on the amendment to the Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Size Criteria) regulations, following a Court of Appeal judgment. The judgment, Burnip and others v. Birmingham City Council and others, had ruled that children with severe disabilities might be allowed provision for their own bedroom if sharing would give rise to an unacceptable level of disruption or physical risk. The Committee had consulted with various interested bodies and raised a number of concerns about the conditionality of the amended regulations. The report included the government's response.
Source: The Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Size Criteria) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2013 (S.I.2013 No.2828): Report by the Social Security Advisory Committee under Section 174(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and statement by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in accordance with Section 174(2) of that Act, Social Security Advisory Committee
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Nov
A report examined ways of creating more choice and control for people with learning disabilities over where they lived and how they were supported.
Source: Simon Duffy, 21st Century Vision, Centre for Welfare Reform/Housing and Support Alliance
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Apr