Housing benefit reforms shelved

Some good news, the Department of Work and Pensions has ditched one of James Purnell's stupid ideas:

"The government is to put on hold plans to reclaim up to £15 a week in housing benefit from about 300,000 families.

The current system allows people to keep up to £15 if they find housing at a lower rent than the level of housing allowance set by their local authority.

Since 2008, new housing benefit claimants have been entitled to get up to £15 a week back - £780 over a year.

It was a key part of the government's reform of housing benefit and was meant to encourage people on low incomes to shop around for the best deal when looking for rented accommodation."