Disabled woman loses ‘bedroom tax’ battle

A woman with a severe learning disability and “autistic traits” has lost a ‘bedroom tax’ legal battle at Scotland’s highest civil court.

The 56-year-old, who is called IB in legal documents, was taken to the Court of Session earlier this year by Damian Green, the then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The woman had been told shortly after the introduction of the bedroom tax policy in 2013, her housing benefit would be reduced by 25 per cent as Glasgow City Council, who administer housing benefit, determined that she “under occupied” two of her bedrooms.

Miss B successfully appealed the decision but lawyers for the government went to the Court of Session. Yesterday the judges ruled in favour of the government.