17 August 2026

A Hemlington foster carer is receiving more than £4,200 back after Luke Myer MP stepped in over bedroom tax deductions dating back five years.

The constituent contacted Luke after deductions had been made from her benefits for a supposedly spare bedroom. She explained that she was a foster carer and the room had only been unoccupied for short periods. Luke’s team raised the case with the DWP and asked for the deductions dating back to 2021 to be reviewed.

The DWP subsequently agreed to backdate the money owed. When more than £4,200 of the refund then became stuck between the DWP and housing provider Thirteen, Luke intervened again, and Thirteen confirmed the money had been located and would be processed.

Anyone needing help can email luke.myer.mp@parliament.uk, visit Luke’s Guisborough constituency office, or book a face-to-face appointment at lukemyer.uk/surgeries.