By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 02:34 EST, 19 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:17 EST, 19 September 2013 . Controversial policy: The bedroom tax has sparked fierce protests and has put 50,000 in rent arrears, it was claimed today . The Government's so-called 'bedroom tax' has tipped nearly one in three affected council tenants into rent arrears and many face eviction, it emerged today. Since the reform was introduced in April, 50,000 households in 114 local council areas can no longer afford to pay for their accommodation. At least one in three of those affected face eviction, the False Economy group today claimed. The figures, obtained by the TUC-backed anti-cuts group showed some parts of Britain are suffering far more than others. In Barrow, Cumbria, three quarters had fallen into arrears. Other areas where the proportion was at least half were Clackmannanshire - 67 per cent -  Tamworth  - 52 per cent -  South Kesteven - 51 per cent - and Rotherham on 50 per cent. A separate study, by the National Housing Federation (NHF), showed a quarter of those in housing association properties affected by the policy had been pushed into rent arrears since the change. It found that a quarter of tenants affected by the reform in 38 housing associations it questioned had become unable any longer to pay the rent between April and June. Under the welfare reform, social tenants deemed to have more bedrooms than they need have had their housing benefit reduced, to tackle what the Government calls a 'spare room subsidy'. Ministers say private sector renters do not get spare rooms for free, and argue the change will save around £500 million annually. It has sparked protests across the country with opponents claiming it is forcing families into poverty and will increase the benefits bill by pushing people into the private sector. Scroll down for video . Policy: The 'spare room subsidy', to use its official name, reduces housing benefit for those who have more bedrooms than they need . The Department for Work and Pensions dismissed the significance of the findings and defended 'a necessary reform to return fairness to housing benefit'. 'It is just wrong to suggest the early stages of the policy - as people start to adjust to the changes - represent long-term trends in any way whatsoever,' a spokesman said. 'We are carefully monitoring the policy nationally ensuring the extra funds to support vulnerable tenants are used well as these changes are introduced.' Row: TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady says bedroom tax 'is pushing up rent arrears which will force councils to waste more cash on evictions' But False Economy said the early figures were likely to be on the low side as emergency funds supplied to town halls to ease the burden would quickly dry up and leave more with no help. Campaign manager Clifford Singer said: 'Together with the raft of other benefits cuts the Government has forced through both this year and previously, the bedroom tax is driving tenants and families who were just making ends meet into arrears, and pushing those who were already struggling with the cost of living into a full-blown crisis. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady added: 'The bedroom tax is not saving money. Instead it is pushing up rent arrears which will force councils to waste more cash on evictions, debt collection and emergency support for homeless families. 'It says a lot about this Government's commitment to fairness that they've blocked a mansion tax for millionaires but are happy to go ahead with a bedroom tax on disabled and low paid families, no matter how much chaos and misery it causes.' Liberal Democrat activists voted overwhelmingly at the party's conference in Glasgow to commit the party to a review of the policy's impact on vulnerable families . NHF chief executive David Orr - who will set out his criticisms in a speech to the Federation's conference later - said: 'This is the most damning evidence yet to show that the bedroom tax is pushing thousands of families into a spiralling cycle of debt. Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne said: 'The jury is now in. 'David Cameron's hated 'bedroom tax' is pushing a generation into foodbanks and loan-sharks. This Government seems determined to stand up for a privileged few, but stands idle while hundreds of thousands of our neighbours are pushed into debt from which they may never recover.'
50,000 in 114 areas cannot afford to pay council or housing association .
In Barrow, Cumbria, 74% are in arrears and could face eviction from homes .
Critics: 'Pushing up arrears and force councils to waste cash on evictions'
Government says it is too early to see trend from their housing policy .
By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 02:34 EST, 19 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:17 EST, 19 September 2013 . Controversial policy: The bedroom tax has sparked fierce protests and has put 50,000 in rent arrears, it was claimed today . The Government's so-called 'bedroom tax' has tipped nearly one in three affected council tenants into rent arrears and many face eviction, it emerged today. Since the reform was introduced in April, 50,000 households in 114 local council areas can no longer afford to pay for their accommodation. At least one in three of those affected face eviction, the False Economy group today claimed. The figures, obtained by the TUC-backed anti-cuts group showed some parts of Britain are suffering far more than others. In Barrow, Cumbria, three quarters had fallen into arrears. Other areas where the proportion was at least half were Clackmannanshire - 67 per cent - Tamworth  - 52 per cent -  South Kesteven - 51 per cent - and Rotherham on 50 per cent. A separate study, by the National Housing Federation (NHF), showed a quarter of those in housing association properties affected by the policy had been pushed into rent arrears since the change. It found that a quarter of tenants affected by the reform in 38 housing associations it questioned had become unable any longer to pay the rent between April and June. Under the welfare reform, social tenants deemed to have more bedrooms than they need have had their housing benefit reduced, to tackle what the Government calls a 'spare room subsidy'. Ministers say private sector renters do not get spare rooms for free, and argue the change will save around £500 million annually. It has sparked protests across the country with opponents claiming it is forcing families into poverty and will increase the benefits bill by pushing people into the private sector. Scroll down for video . Policy: The 'spare room subsidy', to use its official name, reduces housing benefit for those who have more bedrooms than they need . The Department for Work and Pensions dismissed the significance of the findings and defended 'a necessary reform to return fairness to housing benefit'. 'It is just wrong to suggest the early stages of the policy - as people start to adjust to the changes - represent long-term trends in any way whatsoever,' a spokesman said. 'We are carefully monitoring the policy nationally ensuring the extra funds to support vulnerable tenants are used well as these changes are introduced.' Row: TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady says bedroom tax 'is pushing up rent arrears which will force councils to waste more cash on evictions' But False Economy said the early figures were likely to be on the low side as emergency funds supplied to town halls to ease the burden would quickly dry up and leave more with no help. Campaign manager Clifford Singer said: 'Together with the raft of other benefits cuts the Government has forced through both this year and previously, the bedroom tax is driving tenants and families who were just making ends meet into arrears, and pushing those who were already struggling with the cost of living into a full-blown crisis. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady added: 'The bedroom tax is not saving money. Instead it is pushing up rent arrears which will force councils to waste more cash on evictions, debt collection and emergency support for homeless families. 'It says a lot about this Government's commitment to fairness that they've blocked a mansion tax for millionaires but are happy to go ahead with a bedroom tax on disabled and low paid families, no matter how much chaos and misery it causes.' Liberal Democrat activists voted overwhelmingly at the party's conference in Glasgow to commit the party to a review of the policy's impact on vulnerable families . NHF chief executive David Orr - who will set out his criticisms in a speech to the Federation's conference later - said: 'This is the most damning evidence yet to show that the bedroom tax is pushing thousands of families into a spiralling cycle of debt. Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne said: 'The jury is now in. 'David Cameron's hated 'bedroom tax' is pushing a generation into foodbanks and loan-sharks. This Government seems determined to stand up for a privileged few, but stands idle while hundreds of thousands of our neighbours are pushed into debt from which they may never recover.'
tenants into rent arrears and many face eviction, in April, 50,000 households in 114 local council areas can no longer afford to pay for their Barrow, Cumbria, three quarters had fallen into housing association properties affected by the money. Instead it is pushing up rent arrears which will force councils to waste more cash on