The "Spare Room Subsidy" was introduced in 2013 (aka the Bedroom Tax) it is charged to all Housing association / Council tenants with 1 or more rooms than registered residents, regardless of circumstance The aim of bedroom tax was to making savings by the government to cover the budget deficit in housing because of the lack of suitable social housing after RTB meant that their housing stock was depleted and encourage benefit claimants to find work and make more efficient use of social housing stock, however, many already work full time but their income is not enough to cover basic living costs and still have to claim some benefits, alongside the severe shortage of suitable available social housing for tenants to move to. Hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to downsize in to less suitable properties, meaning non resident children can't stay, carer's can't stay, people are being isolated and forced to live in unsuitable accommodation or severe debt and poverty, in some cases causing homelessness. It is clear that the bedroom tax is unfit for purpose and it has to be abolished