Charities call for disabled to be spared bedroom tax

Carers UK, MS Society, Mencap, Macmillan Cancer, Disability Rights UK, Carers Trust and Contact A Family told Chancellor George Osborne that they are concerned the tax will be hard on disabled people and families caring for their loved ones.

It wants him to exempt these people from the tax in the coming Budget.

Housing benefit changes that take effect in April will penalise families in "under-occupied" social housing.

The government also expects children to share rooms.

Carers UK head Helena Herklots said: "These changes would hit families for whom an extra bedroom is essential.

"If you care full-time for a severely ill or disabled partner, their condition may mean a separate room for you to sleep is vital.

"Disabled children often cannot share with their brothers or sisters.

"Hitting carers and disabled people with extra costs for this essential accommodation or forcing them to move is simply wrong.

"For families already struggling to make ends meet it could have devastating consequences."

The charity wants carers to ask their MPs to put their case forward and push for exemptions.

The government said the bedroom tax will affect 420,000 disabled people and their families and carers.

A Department of Work and Pensions spokesman said these families would get extra funding.

But Carers UK said that money would only protect one in 10 of affected disabled people.