Government's bedroom tax to hit 2,500 Telford homes
More than 2,500 homes across Telford and Wrekin will be hit by the Government's controversial bedroom tax, officials figures show.
Borough council chiefs say 2,613 households will lose benefits because they have spare bedrooms when the new changes come into force on April 1.
Of the homes affected in Telford and Wrekin, 2,135 have one extra bedroom and will lose an average of £13 per week in benefit while 477 households have two or more extra bedrooms and will lose an average of £24 per week.
The changes, which David Cameron described as the removal of a 'spare room subsidy', apply to working-age tenants in council and social housing.
Telford and Wrekin councillors last night backed calls for the Government to scrap the changes.
Councillor Derek White said: "Although 56 per cent of all households affected by the reduction in Telford & Wrekin are only entitled to a one bedroom property, to add to the chaos, the
Department of Work and Pensions has admitted that there are not enough smaller properties for families to move to."
Councillor Angela McClements said: "Never ever in my political life have I seen anything so abhorrent as this bedroom tax. It persecutes families with disabled kids, it harms divorced dads with kids visiting at weekends, and it betrays the families of those serving in Afghanistan.
"Over 600,000 houses across the UK will have to find up to £728 a year to pay a new bedroom tax. This will affect 2,613 households in Telford & Wrekin."
