THE 'bedroom tax' is forcing people into going hungry, into rent arrears or putting them in debt to pay the extra rent, MPs have been told.

Citizens Advice Scotland told a meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee in the Commons how several hundred people had gone to the advisory organisation in the first few weeks of the benefits changes imposed as a result of the new under-occupancy rule for social tenants.

The rule, nicknamed the 'bedroom tax', cuts housing benefit to tenants with a room considered by the UK Government to be spare. It affects tenants of working age.

The committee was told of the impact across Scotland after a CAS survey of its 62 offices throughout the country.

CAS policy manager Keith Dryburgh presented the findings to the committee. He said the biggest number affected are disabled people whose homes have been adapted to fit their condition and parents who are separated from their children but need an extra room for access agreements.

Mr Dryburgh said many affected are also going without food or turning to high interest money lenders to make up the shortfall in income.

The survey also found CAS offices had a 40% increase in inquiries about housing benefit since the changes came into effect in April.

The Government said it would protect vulnerable people from the change by increasing the Discretionary Housing Payment. However, Citizens Advice estimated the average tenant would get only £2.51 per week in DHP, while the average reduction in Housing Benefit was £11.

Mr Dryburgh said: "Our evidence shows the impact of this policy has been as bad, or worse, than was feared.

"It has been in place for only seven weeks, but our advisers are already reporting a huge wave of cases, and many of the people are facing real crisis situations.

"The measures that are supposed to protect the most vulnerable people are clearly not sufficient in practice.

"So those who are worst affected include sick and disabled people, families with young children and those on very low incomes.

"Our case evidence shows people are trying to deal with the problem in various ways.

"Many are simply building up arrears, others are going without food or heating to pay the shortfall, and others are getting into debt to high-interest payday lenders or loan sharks.

" Many of these people have already been affected by the recession and the other welfare reforms, and so this is just the latest hit they have had to take.

"Some were only just getting by, and have found this is pushing them over the edge and into severe poverty."

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk