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<p>The Government believes that direct payment of Housing Benefit to claimants is
an important consideration in encouraging people to manage their own budget in the
same way as other households, particularly where it may help claimants as they move
into work.</p><p> </p><p>Direct payment of Housing Benefit to private sector tenants
was introduced nationally from 2008 as part of the Local Housing Allowance scheme.</p><p>
</p><p>We do however recognise that in a small minority of cases some claimants may
not utilise their Housing Benefit for the purposes of paying their rent. There are
safeguards to minimise the risks for landlords which enable local authorities to pay
Housing Benefit directly to them, if their tenants have difficulty in managing their
rent payments, are unlikely to pay their rent or they are eight weeks in arrears.</p>
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