Is the New Policy of Housing Cap Better off for People With Mental Health Problems - Literature review Example

The paper tells that the mentally ill population of London will be hurt by a cap on housing benefits. The housing benefit was instigated in 1982 and 1983 through the Social Security and Housing Benefits Act, 1982. The Housing Benefits, which are available to UK residents, vary according to region. In regions where housing is less affordable, residents are eligible for more benefits. The converse is also true. Hamnett uses the example of London versus the North East. The eligible weekly rent for tenants in London was £73, while in the North East it was £43.

This was based upon the rents in these two areas. The housing benefit is not available to individuals who have over £16,000 in savings, who are living in the home of a close relative, who is a full-time student, or who is an asylum seeker. Eligible rent includes rent for the accommodation, and charges for certain services such as lifts, communal laundry facilities, and play areas. The circumstances which are examined when allotting the housing allowance include the amount of income, savings, and personal circumstances.

Other circumstances are whether the rent is reasonable for the particular home, whether the home is a reasonable size for the family and whether the rent is reasonable for the area. The changes which were made in April of 2011 are that there is a cap on payments. The Local Housing Allowance must not exceed £250 for a one-bedroom property;£290 a week for a two-bedroom property; £340 a week for a three-bedroom property and £400 a week for a four-bedroom property. . Evans et al. also found a correlation between the quality of the dwelling and mental health.

They found that mothers with young children who live in high rises suffer mental health effects because the children cannot easily play outside. Such factors as structural defects, dampness, pest infestation (eg. rodents and cockroaches), and mold all adversely affect mental health, and the absence of these factors has a positive correlation with increased mental health. Living in lower-income neighborhoods also is positively correlated with decreased mental health, and the effects of overcrowding on psychological distress are compounded when this overcrowding occurs in a low-income neighborhood (Evans et al., 2003, p. 491).