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The under-occupancy penalty (also known as the under occupation penalty, under-occupancy charge, under-occupation charge or size criteria) is a reform contained in the British Welfare Reform Act 2012 whereby social sector tenants with rooms deemed to be "spare" face a reduction in Housing Benefit, resulting in them being obliged to fund this reduction from their incomes or face rent arrears and potential eviction by their landlord (be that the local authority or a housing association). The under-occupancy penalty has been popularly branded the Bedroom Tax, especially by critics of the changes who argue that they amount to a tax because of the lack of social housing (or in some areas, any rented accommodation) for affected tenants to downsize to. The penalties are also criticised as having a disproportionate impact on disabled people. Supporters of the changes have referred to the unreformed system as a "spare room subsidy"〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Local authorities and advisers: removal of the spare room subsidy )〕 whereby tax-payers are said to be subsidising social housing tenants living in houses larger than their needs require, with the said intention of the policy being to reduce these costs and ease housing shortages and overcrowding. The reforms were one part of the 2010-2015 Coalition Government's wide-ranging welfare reform agenda which included the introduction of Universal Credit, the introduction of a cap on the total size of the welfare bill (see Welfare Cap), reform of Council Tax and reform of disability benefits (see Personal Independence Payment). ==Policy== The under-occupancy rules apply from 1 April 2013 and applies to all those of working age . Having one bedroom more than the calculated allowance means a reduction in housing benefit of 14%, and two "spare" bedrooms means that a tenant will lose 25% of their housing benefit. One bedroom is allowed for each of the following: *An adult couple *Each other person aged 16 and over *Two children of the same sex under 16 *Two children who are under 10 regardless of sex *Any other child (other than a foster child whose main home is elsewhere) *A non-resident carer (or group of carers) requiring overnight care *Where a room is required by a disabled child who is unable to share a bedroom *Adult children who are in the armed forces *A bedroom required by an approved foster carer for a fostered child. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Under-occupancy penalty」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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