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1716547

registered interest
date	08/05/2024
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the uptake of housing benefit in (a) Wallasey constituency, (b) Wirral, (c) the North West and (d) the United Kingdom.
tabling member constituency	Wallasey
tabling member printed	Dame Angela Eagle
uin	25172
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2024 answer text <p>With the completion of the rollout of Universal Credit in December 2018, new claims for HB are predominately for pensioners and are administered by Local Authorities.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 13/05/2024 16:32:25 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	491 label Biography information for Dame Angela Eagle

1693411

registered interest
date	04/03/2024
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on housing benefits in the last financial year; and how much of that was spent on housing provided by (a) local authorities, (b) other social housing providers and (c) private sector landlords.
tabling member constituency	Darlington
tabling member printed	Peter Gibson
uin	16827
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2024 answer text <p>In 2022/23 the Department spent £28.97 billion on Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Housing Element combined.</p><p> </p><p>£15.00 billion was spent on Housing Benefit and £13.97 billion was spent on Universal Credit Housing Element. The quoted Housing Benefit expenditure excludes expenditure funded by Local Authorities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Housing Benefit expenditure by tenure in 2022/23:</p><p> </p><ol><li>£4.05 billion spent on Local Authority accommodation.</li><li>£7.17 billion spent on accommodation provided by Registered Social Landlords.</li><li>£3.78 billion spent on private rented sector accommodation.</li></ol><p> </p><p>Universal Credit Housing Element expenditure by tenure in 2022/23:</p><p> </p><ol><li>£7.20 billion spent on <strong>social rented sector accommodation</strong>. The available data does not allow us to breakdown expenditure on social rented sector into accommodation provided by (a) local authorities and (b) other social housing providers.</li><li>Available data does not allow us to split out expenditure on accommodation provided by (b) other social housing providers.</li><li>£5.95 billion spent on private rented sector accommodation.</li><li>£0.83 billion spent on other/unknown tenancy types.</li></ol><p> </p><ol><li>The expenditure figures include only amounts subsidised by the Department for Work and Pension and do not include housing expenditure funded by local authorities.</li><li>Figures may not sum due to rounding.</li></ol> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 12/03/2024 17:02:43 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4754 label Biography information for Peter Gibson

1667758

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of housing benefit.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	442
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2023 answer text <p>We are forecast to spend £31 billion in 2023/24 on housing support. Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates were boosted by almost £1 billion in 2020, this significant investment has been kept annually to maintain rates at 2020 levels.</p><p> </p><p>The level of LHA rates is reviewed annually by the Secretary of State. LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas. However, the Department monitors average rents and housing support levels provided to claimants to assess the impact of the policy.</p><p> </p><p>For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support. Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in DHP funding to local authorities</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 15/11/2023 11:35:43 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1660306

registered interest
date	12/09/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to review the 65p Housing Benefit taper rate; and if will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing that rate in line with the Universal Credit taper rate in incentivising young people into work.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	199215
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>There are no plans to bring the Housing Benefit taper in line with that of Universal Credit. The two benefits have different treatment of earnings rules, both include tapers that ensure that all claimants are better off working than wholly reliant on benefits.</p><p> </p><p>At present, there is a broad spectrum of claimants receiving their rent support through Housing Benefit; those resident in supported housing or temporary accommodations as well as those claimants who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper rate would apply to all of these groups and could result in Housing Benefit outstripping the provision provided by Universal Credit in some circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>The Department acknowledges the challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those working and living in supported housing and temporary accommodation. This issue is a complex one, and eradicating the financial cliff edge some individuals face as they incrementally increase their earnings could not be achieved by simply aligning the taper rates within the two benefits. Officials are working to explore this issue further considering the impact including impact on different groups and consider policy options.</p><p>It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 19/09/2023 11:27:22 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1656703

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to take steps to remove the non-dependent charge in Housing Benefit for disadvantaged groups.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
tabling member printed	Dan Carden
uin	196453
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2023 answer text <p>The general policy for non-dependant deductions is that adults (such as adult children) living in the household of people claiming Housing Benefit should contribute to the household expenses of the accommodation where they live.</p><p> </p><p>There are easements within the rules, which apply if the householder (or their partner) is blind, getting Attendance Allowance, the care component of Disability Living Allowance, the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, or Armed Forces Independence Payment. In these circumstances, no non-dependant deductions would be made.</p><p> </p><p>This easement is designed to help sustain disabled householders in their own home rather than increase the risk of them moving into alternative accommodation, which might be more expensive and /or less appropriate for them.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently no plans to review the non-dependant deductions policy in Housing Benefit.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 08/09/2023 10:34:48 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4651 label Biography information for Dan Carden

1644131

registered interest
date	13/06/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of housing benefit in the context of trends in the level of average rents.
tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
uin	189215
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2023 answer text <p>Housing Benefit supports tenants in both the private rented sector (PRS) and social rented sector (SRS).</p><p> </p><p>For Housing Benefit claimants in the PRS, the majority are subject to their Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate. The LHA policy is kept under regular review and in 2020 we spent almost £1 billion increasing LHA rates to the 30th percentile. The significant investment at that time has been maintained ensuring that everyone who benefited continues to do so however, LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants in receipt of the housing benefit living in the social rented sector have their eligible rent paid in full, unless it is reduced because of their income or savings, contributions from non-dependants, or limited by the benefit cap or the removal of the spare room subsidy.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that rents are increasing. However, the challenging fiscal environment means that difficult decisions have been necessary to ensure support is targeted effectively.</p><p> </p><p>For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support. Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.6 billion in DHP funding to local authorities</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 21/06/2023 15:59:43 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

1643596

registered interest
date	12/06/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published 31 March 2022, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Verification of Earnings and Pensions service.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	188950
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2023 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) monitors the outcomes after sending Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) alerts to local authorities (LAs) using management information. By tracking what subsequently happens to the value of a claim we assessed that in 2020-21 there was a significant saving for the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p>DWP are continually working with LAs to improve the effectiveness of the VEP service.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 20/06/2023 11:41:29 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1623407

registered interest
date	24/04/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households were in receipt of housing benefit in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Thurrock
tabling member printed	Jackie Doyle-Price
uin	182280
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2023 answer text <p>The information requested is available in the benefit expenditure and caseload tables produced by the department. The latest tables produced at Spring Budget 2023 can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2023" target="_blank">here.</a></p><p> </p><p>Total housing benefit expenditure can be found on rows 4 and 66 of the housing benefits tab.</p><p> </p><p>The number of households in receipt of housing benefit can be found on row 127 of the housing benefits tab.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 182279 question first answered 03/05/2023 16:30:19 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price

1623199

registered interest
date	18/04/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of Housing Benefit.
tabling member constituency	Twickenham
tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
uin	904589
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2023 answer text <p>The level of housing support is reviewed annually through assessing the Local Housing Allowance rates and by monitoring housing welfare policy.</p><p>For those who need additional support to meet their housing costs, the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year long extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the significantly rising cost of living.</p><p>In addition, for 2023/24, households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments. This will be split into three payments of around £300 each across the 2023/24 financial year. The first payment is due to be paid to eligible households from tomorrow (25<sup>th</sup> May). A separate £300 payment will be made to pensioner households on top of their Winter Fuel Payments and individuals in receipt of eligible disability benefits will receive a £150 payment. Further to this, the Energy Price Guarantee will be extended from April 2023 until the end of March 2024, meaning a typical household bill will be around £3,000 per year in Great Britain.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 24/04/2023 16:57:07 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson

1580810

registered interest
date	25/01/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken to process new Housing Benefit claims since Q3 2020-21.
tabling member constituency	Leicester South
tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
uin	132371
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2023 answer text <p>The DWP Permanent Secretary is the accountable officer for Housing Benefit, however, it is for Local Authorities to decide how best to deliver their Housing Benefit services. It remains the focus of DWP to work collaboratively with Local Authorities in all areas to improve performance. This includes monitoring speed of processing data for new claims and changes of circumstances and engaging with Local Authorities regularly to share good practice and offer advice and support. This includes DWP business consultancy support for Local Authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 132372 question first answered 30/01/2023 16:11:29 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth