Steve Webb: While all aspects of welfare expenditure remain
under review, there are currently no plans to remove entitlement to housing
benefit from people under 25 years of age.
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State what assessment
he has made of the need for assistance to tenants (a) who are foster carers and
(b) with disabilities affected by the reduction in housing benefit as a result
of under-occupation; and if he will make a statement.
Steve Webb: We have made an additional £30 million available
for the discretionary housing payment budget from 2013-14 aimed specifically at
two groups: foster carers; and disabled people who live in significantly
adapted accommodation. There is a strong argument not to expect someone living
in a property which has been specially adapted for their needs, often at quite
considerable cost, to move into a different one. We are also keen to protect
the position of foster carers so that they are not discouraged from taking up
or continuing their caring role. Based on information from a variety of sources
we estimate that this additional funding could assist around 40,000 claimants
affected by the under occupation measure.
No comments:
Post a Comment