Housing Benefit – Parliamentary Written Answer

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will amend regulations on benefit levels for under-occupancy to allow people of non-retirement age with chronic life-threatening conditions to be considered on the same terms as those of retirement age in respect of their continued occupation of rented property.

Steve Webb: We considered a number of exemptions during formulation of the under-occupation policy but concluded that specific exemptions for different groups can be an inefficient and a complex way of targeting resources. We believe that Discretionary Housing Payments offer a better solution as local decision makers are best placed to make decisions on individual circumstances.  As part of the under-occupation measure we are adding £30 million a year to the Discretionary Housing Payment fund from April, £25 million of which is aimed at supporting disabled claimants living in adapted properties.