Has the Minister received any advice, briefings, reports, aides-memoire, or any other documents regarding reducing the Accommodation Supplement, if so, when?

Answer

The social housing system has long-standing issues - it is unfair, it is not well targeted to those in most need, and it traps people in social housing dependency. Officials have advised successive governments of issues in the system. In 2024, the Minister of Social Development and the Minister of Housing asked Officials to investigate rising costs in housing subsidies, including the Accommodation Supplement and Income Related Rent Subsidy. We first received advice on these specific subsidies in September 2024. Officials advised that changes to housing subsidies should be considered in the context of broader changes to the social housing system. We agreed. Officials subsequently provided advice on a Review of the Social Housing System (RoSH), which Cabinet agreed to in April 2026. The review has produced many pieces of advice, including advice on changes to housing subsidies/supports. We will proactively release any related advice soon.