Council increases discretionary housing payments made to residents

Rochdale Council has increased the amount of money paid out to people needing discretionary hosing payments.

The latest figures from the Department of Work and Pensions show Rochdale Council with the biggest increase in with payments rising to £275,000 in 2014/2015 from £121,000 in 2013/2104.

In the Greater Manchester region there has been a near 16pc increase in discretionary housing payments made because of the bedroom tax.

Pauline Kane, Director of Finance at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The Department of Work and Pensions provides us with an allocation each year for discretionary housing payments.

“In 2013/14 we didn’t receive as many applications as expected, so last year we conducted a targeted campaign and worked more closely with landlords to ensure those who needed short-term support could access it.

“This successfully resulted in an increased number of applications and we were awarded the full allocation. Although this reflects the challenges that people in Rochdale are facing, the number of tenants affected by the under occupancy restriction has fallen by 36% since April 2013.”