Fewer Social Housing Claims Drives Drop In Housing Benefit Numbers

There has been a rise in the number workers claiming housing benefit - despite a fall in overall claims driven by a significant drop in the number claimants in the social rented sector.  Latest figures for April, published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), show the claimant count across both private and social sectors fell by 1,950 to 5.013m, despite another rise in private rented sector claimants of 1,070.  The fall was instigated by a significant drop in claims from the social rented sector with 3,000 fewer being recorded.  There are now 3.372m social rented sector HB recipients, compared to 1.637m in the private rented sector.  Despite this, the number of workers claiming housing benefit rose by 8,160 in April to 891,050.  Read more on 24dash.