Housing Benefit Minister Helen Goodman MP will attend an open event organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) on 4 February to invite views on the future of Housing Benefit.

Housing Benefit accounts for over 80% of government funding for housing in the UK. It is currently paid to 5 million tenants and amounts to £17 billion per year. Government plans to reform Housing Benefit to ensure that it supports people back into work rather than creating a barrier to seeking employment, and the consultation on the future of the benefit is open until 22 February.

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CIH is hosting an online discussion forum for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and sees the event in London, which is free to attend, as another important way for people interested in the future of Housing Benefit to make their views and experiences known directly with the Minister responsible.

Abigail Davies, CIH Head of Policy, said: "We are delighted that Helen Goodman has asked us to host this event, it is vital that as many people as possible go along and have their say and take this chance to influence future government policy."

(CD/GK)