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93664

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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 the effect of a claimant becoming self-employed is on awards of housing benefit.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>The effect of starting self-employment on Housing Benefit will depend on the local authority’s assessment of the claimant’s income, or likely level of income, from the self-employment.</p><p> </p><p>Guidance on how to assess self-employed income is in Chapter BW2 of the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, specifically in paragraphs W2.310 onwards. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 20/10/2014 15:33:40 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93665

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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 it is his Department's policy that an award of housing benefit should be suspended when Permitted Work is reported as a change of circumstance.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210727
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>Guidance to local authorities on permitted work and how it affects Housing Benefit is provided in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter BW2, specifically paragraphs W2.141 and following. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>There is no specific suspension rule relating to permitted work cases. Decision makers have general powers to suspend any payment of Housing Benefit, in whole or part, when there is an issue about whether the conditions for entitlement are or were fulfilled, or a question arises about whether a decision to award HB should be revised or superseded. This might be exercised where, for example, the decision maker needs further information from the claimant in order accurately to assess Housing Benefit entitlement. It is not an obligatory power; the decision maker may decide whether or not to suspend, based on the circumstances of the case. Guidance is in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter C8. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 210724 210725 question first answered 20/10/2014 15:22:29 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93666

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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 the time limit is for local authority decisions on determining reported changes of circumstances.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210728
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>There is no time limit set by Central Government for this. The latest published data for average Speed of Processing for change of circumstances for 2013/14 is 9 days.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 20/10/2014 13:47:21 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93667

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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, under what circumstances local authorities are permitted to suspend housing benefit payments.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210724
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>Guidance to local authorities on permitted work and how it affects Housing Benefit is provided in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter BW2, specifically paragraphs W2.141 and following. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>There is no specific suspension rule relating to permitted work cases. Decision makers have general powers to suspend any payment of Housing Benefit, in whole or part, when there is an issue about whether the conditions for entitlement are or were fulfilled, or a question arises about whether a decision to award HB should be revised or superseded. This might be exercised where, for example, the decision maker needs further information from the claimant in order accurately to assess Housing Benefit entitlement. It is not an obligatory power; the decision maker may decide whether or not to suspend, based on the circumstances of the case. Guidance is in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter C8. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 210725 210727 question first answered 20/10/2014 15:22:29 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93668

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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 guidance his Department gives to local authorities on steps to take when a claimant of housing benefit who retains an award of employment and support allowance reports a change of circumstance in the form of Permitted Work.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210725
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>Guidance to local authorities on permitted work and how it affects Housing Benefit is provided in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter BW2, specifically paragraphs W2.141 and following. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>There is no specific suspension rule relating to permitted work cases. Decision makers have general powers to suspend any payment of Housing Benefit, in whole or part, when there is an issue about whether the conditions for entitlement are or were fulfilled, or a question arises about whether a decision to award HB should be revised or superseded. This might be exercised where, for example, the decision maker needs further information from the claimant in order accurately to assess Housing Benefit entitlement. It is not an obligatory power; the decision maker may decide whether or not to suspend, based on the circumstances of the case. Guidance is in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter C8. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 210724 210727 question first answered 20/10/2014 15:22:29 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93669

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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 housing benefit claimants who have become self employed must use a self employment declaration form, as the means of reporting that information.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Whilst it is for the DWP to set Housing Benefit policy, local authorities have a statutory duty to undertake day-to-day administration and pay claimants.</p><p> </p><p>It would be for local authorities to determine how they obtain the information they need from claimants who undertake permitted work on a self-employed basis or who have started self-employment.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 210730 question first answered 21/10/2014 13:18:21 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93670

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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 a housing benefit claimant who undertakes permitted work on a self-employment basis is required to complete a self employment declaration form.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210730
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>Whilst it is for the DWP to set Housing Benefit policy, local authorities have a statutory duty to undertake day-to-day administration and pay claimants.</p><p> </p><p>It would be for local authorities to determine how they obtain the information they need from claimants who undertake permitted work on a self-employed basis or who have started self-employment.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 210729 question first answered 21/10/2014 13:18:21 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93671

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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, who is responsible for repaying an overpayment of housing benefit in cases where the local authority makes that payment direct to a landlord.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210731
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Responsibility for recovery of Housing Benefit overpayments lies with the Local Authority who paid the Housing Benefit and now seek to recover it. They will make the decision firstly on whether it is an overpayment and secondly whether it is recoverable and from whom it is recoverable.</p><p> </p><p>The legislation provides for instances of recovery of housing benefit overpayments direct from the landlord where it has been paid to the landlord as long as the overpayment is recoverable and the Local Authority has decided to recover it.</p><p> </p><p>However, if the overpayment arose as a result of a misrepresentation or a failure to disclose a material fact by the tenant, or an appointee, then it can only be recovered from the person who misrepresented or failed to disclose i.e. the tenant or the appointee. The legislation also covers a number of other instances where recovery could not be sought from the landlord.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 21/10/2014 11:43:59 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93377

registered interest
date	14/10/2014
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, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2014 to Question 209233 for what reason the information is not available.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Mr David Anderson
uin	210521
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions publishes monitoring returns from local authorities that give a breakdown of Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) awards by broad category, including to recipients of Housing Benefit subject to Local Housing Allowance calculations. Further detail, for example awards to those subject to the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR), is not available. Returns are voluntary and information is not provided by all local authorities. The returns give the number of awards, which may not equate to the number of people receiving them; some people may receive more than one award over the period.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The latest publication is available at the following weblink:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/use-of-discretionary-housing-payments-2013-to-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/use-of-discretionary-housing-payments-2013-to-2014</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department’s housing benefit administrative database, compiled from electronic data supplied by local authorities, identifies by gender and age those Housing Benefit claimants that are assessed by the SAR in the given area. These data are taken from scans of local authority systems. They also hold some information on whether a DHP is being made to the claimant at that time. The recording of this information on the electronic data is incomplete and not reliable.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 20/10/2014 15:18:33 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	1486 label Biography information for Mr David Anderson

92322

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
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, if he will commission a review and recalculation of the shared accommodation rate to ensure that it reflects the real cost of rooms in shared houses.
tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
tabling member printed	John McDonnell
uin	209552
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2014 answer text <p>The Department has no plans to review the way the Shared Accommodation Rates are calculated. The Rent Officer Services set the rates in line with the current DWP policy for uprating Local Housing Allowance and with reference to evidence of achieved rents in the local area.</p><p> </p><p>In 2014/15, 56 out of the 192 Shared Accommodation Rates have been increased by 4%, in those areas where there is the greatest divergence between LHA rates and local rents.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 14/10/2014 10:42:30 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell