Almost three quarters of housing benefit claimants living in private rental accommodation in West and South Belfast are being charged more than their Housing Benefit allowance.
These figures have come to light following a Freedom of Information request submitted by SDLP Collin candidate Gerard McDonald.
As of 3rd March, within housing benefit workgroup 201 which includes South and West Belfast encompassing Poleglass and Twinbrook, 71.85% of claimants have a shortfall between the rent charged by their landlord and the applicable Local Housing Allowance for the property occupied.
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The information released also shows that within workgroup 406, which covers Dunmurry and Lisburn, 89.49% of claimants have a shortfall between the rent charged by their landlord and the applicable Local Housing Allowance for the property occupied.
Local Housing Allowance is used to calculate the level of Housing Benefit available to those living in the Private Rental Sector.
The rates are based on rents and limited by legislation. These rents are being paid by people with the same number of bedrooms as the property where the tenant lives, or the number of rooms that the household needs.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Gerard McDonald said: "It is clear that our social security system is not providing the safety net needed within our housing sector.
"Individuals and families who find shortfalls in their Housing Benefit must find their money elsewhere from the family budget.
"What we often find is families are robbing Peter to pay Paul, they will lessen the amount spent on food and heating to ensure the roof stays over their head.
“These figures were released to me the same week Sinn Féin and the DUP rejected a motion at Belfast City Council seeking to argue for rent control powers to be provided to the Council, therefore the question has to be asked who are the big two parties backing, Landlords or tenants?
“With over 40,000 people in Northern Ireland are on the Housing Executive waiting list - with 30,000 of them in ‘housing stress’ - yet only around 2,000 social or affordable homes are built each year it is clear that neither Stormont or local government are at the races when it comes to tackling our housing crisis."
A Department for Communities spokesperson said: “Support is available for people impacted by a shortfall between private landlord rent charges and Local Housing Allowance rates through the Housing Executive’s Discretionary Housing Payment Scheme.
“Local Housing Allowance rates for 2023/24, set by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, are maintained at the 30th percentile (median) of local market rents applicable at 31 March 2020.”
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