ALABARÉ joins calls for Chancellor to Make Work Pay for young people
We're coming together with more than 150 other organisations to ask the Chancellor to stop a benefit trap in the next Budget.
Homelessness charity ALABARÉ has come together with more than 150 other organisations on the Make Work Pay campaign, asking the Chancellor to stop a benefit trap in the next Budget.
An open letter has been sent to Rachel Reeves MP and the Treasury today (Wednesday, 12 November), from the Youth Chapter Collective, of which ALABARÉ is a member charity.
The call from the Collective urges the Chancellor to end a quirk in the benefits system that’s unfairly punishing thousands of homeless young people in supported housing.
More than 30,000 individuals are impacted by this benefit trap, preventing their ability to work more hours and lift them into brighter futures.
The Make Work Pay campaign highlights how important a simple policy change in the November Budget could break the cycle of homelessness for thousands of young people.
Two targeted measures are being suggested to directly address the issue:
- Raise the Housing Benefit earnings disregard from £5 to £57 – increasing the amount young people can earn before their benefit is reduced, and helping to smooth the cliff-edge that currently discourages work.
- Reduce the Housing Benefit taper rate from 65% to 55% – to bring it in line with Universal Credit and create a consistent and fair system.
It’s estimated the changes would save the Government £5 million a year, while also creating £13 million of other savings, related to mental and physical health impacts for 16-24 year olds affected by the current system failure.
ALABARÉ supports young people through supported living accommodation and well-being programmes in Wiltshire and Hampshire, including those leaving care and young parents with their babies.
Andrew Lord, ALABARÉ Chief Executive, said:
“We’re pleased to join the Collective’s push for the Chancellor to Make Work Pay for thousands of young people, including those accessing our supported living accommodation. We can see firsthand how a broken benefit system is holding back those who want to be more independent, by tightening the purse strings too much and too quickly.
“ALABARÉ would support a move to bring housing benefits into line with Universal Credit, making it fairer and easier for our clients to break the cycle of homelessness, while freeing up spaces in support services, ensuring more young people get the help they need.”
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