Housing Benefit - Parliamentary Written Answer

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he intends to apply a housing benefit deduction to social tenants deemed to be under-occupying their homes where a forthcoming change of circumstances would mean the property could no longer be defined as such due to dependent children reaching an age which changed their eligibility for a bedroom.
Steve Webb: We are currently considering the policy detail of this measure and how it will be implemented. Further details will be published in due course.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of claimants not currently eligible for housing benefit who will be affected by the proposed total household benefit cap.
Steve Webb: The number of claimants not currently eligible for housing benefit who will be affected by the proposed total household benefit cap is estimated to be less than 10%. Analysis of those affected by the benefit cap has been modelled using survey data—as such there is a degree of uncertainty around the results.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which benefit accounts for the largest proportion of welfare receipts of claimants likely to be affected by the proposed total housing benefit cap.
Steve Webb: It is estimated that child tax credit and housing benefit account for the largest proportion of welfare receipts of households that are likely to be affected by the total benefit cap. Analysis of those affected by the benefit cap has been modelled using survey data—as such there is a degree of uncertainty around the results.