Charity says 67% of refuges might close

“Women’s Aid has said that two thirds of women’s refuges are going to close because of the benefit cap when it comes into force and that 87% of women and children who are in those refuges will suffer as a result of it.”

Jeremy Corbyn, 7 September 2016

Mr Corbyn is correct that domestic violence charities have raised concerns about proposed changes to Housing Benefit.

Women’s Aid, a charity focusing on women suffering domestic abuse, has said that “67% of specialist domestic abuse refuges in England will be forced to close” unless they are exempted from the changes. The charity also said that in Wales the figure is 69%.

But it’s not correct to say that 87% of women and children in these refuges will suffer as a result. What Women’s Aid said was that 87% of refuges in England won’t be able to keep “their current level of provision” as a result of the benefit change. In Wales this figure increases to 100%.

We’ve asked Women’s Aid for more information about their findings.

In 2015 plans were announced to change the amount that families living in social housing can receive in Housing Benefit.

Women’s Aid has expressed concerns that refuges may be included in the proposed changes, affecting their ability to cover their running costs through Housing Benefit.

The government has exempted refuges for one year, but has made no final announcement on what happens after that.