§ Mr. Squireasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide details of the savings and numbers of losers for each one of the changes in housing benefit and in assistance with housing costs paid with supplementary benefit recently announced.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a breakdown showing the number of households losing housing benefit because of (a) the increased tapers above the needs allowance, (b) the increases in non-dependant deductions (c) the higher minimum rebate allowance limit, and (d) the higher threshold for "high rent schemes" authorisations, or any combinations of these elements.
§ Dr. BoysonThe 1984–85 savings break down approximately as follows:
£ million Increased tapers above the needs allowance 115 Withdrawal of the non-householder's contribution from 18–20 years olds 60 Other non-dependant deduction changes 40 Other items 15 The numbers affected* break down as follows:
000s Households affected by the taper and minima changes combined† 2,170 Non-householders aged 18–20 losing the non-householder's contribution 350 Households affected by changes in non-dependant deductions‡ 700 Households currently getting enhanced benefit through the high rent scheme in an area where the authority will lose its authorisation 40 Notes
*The totals are not cumulative as households may fall into more than one category.
†It is not feasible to distinguish the effect of the proposed changes in the tapers from the proposed increase in the minima for standard cases.
‡The housing benefit recipients in these households need not lose financially because non-dependants will be expected to contribute rather more towards the cost of rent and rates.
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§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest available figures or estimates for (a) the total number of households receiving housing benefit in the United Kingdom, (b) the division of these between "standard" and "certificated" cases, (c) the number receiving housing benefit supplement and (d) the number receiving the transitional addition (limiting taper losses: (i) at April 1983 and (ii) after 21 November 1983.
§ Dr. BoysonThe following table shows our latest estimates for Great Britain.
Households 000s Total number receiving housing benefit—of which, 6,960 standard cases 3,910 certificated cases 3,050 Numbers receiving housing benefit supplement (included in standard cases above) 200 Numbers receiving the transitional addition to limit taper losses i. at April 1983 580 ii. after 21 November 1983 200 The Northern Ireland housing benefits scheme, which only came into effect on 21 November 1983, is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish information about total expenditure on housing benefit showing the division of the expenditure between (a) rate rebates, (b) rent rebates, (c) rent allowances.
§ Dr. BoysonThe estimated total cost of housing benefit in 1983–84 is as follows:
£ million (a) rate rebates 1,239 (b) rent rebates 1,937 (c) rent allowances 396 Total cost 3,572
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) of the housing benefit cases so far heard by review boards, in how many the authority's original determination was (a) altered and (b) upheld;
(2) how many housing benefit cases referred to review boards involved representations about (a) eligible rent-rates, (b) non-dependants or sub-tenants, (c) overpayments and (d) other matters.
§ Dr. BoysonOn the basis of statistical returns made to the Department covering the period 1 April — 30 September 1983, 303 cases have been referred to review boards. A decision has been reached in 21 cases; 11 original determinations were revised and 10 were upheld. The large number of cases outstanding is due mainly to a hearing involving student claimants in one authority where a decision has still to be reached. The representations fell into the following categories; some cases have been counted under more than one heading;
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Cases (a) eligible rent/rates 295 (b) non-dependants or sub-tenants 4 (c) overpayments 2 (d) other matters 10
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average weekly amount of housing benefit supplement payments to claimants since April 1983.
§ Dr. BoysonThe information needed to calculate this is still being processed. I shall let the hon. Member have a reply within the next few weeks.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average weekly amount of transitional addition housing benefit payments to claimants (a) at April 1983; and (b) after 21 November 1983.
§ Dr. BoysonWe estimate that the average weekly amounts were as follows:
- (a) 67p
- (b) 55p
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a breakdown of the losses in housing benefit related to non-dependant deductions (a) between "standard" and "certificated" cases and (b) between the different age brackets of non-dependants., that is 16 to 17-year-olds, 18 to 20-year-olds and those aged 21 years up to retirement age.
§ Dr. BoysonThe following table shows the best available breakdown of the number of households which we estimate will be affected by the proposed non-dependant deduction changes, excluding those with 18 to 20-year-old non-dependants on supplementary benefit or a youth training scheme who will gain benefit in April:
Households affected, 000s Standard cases Certificated cases Household contains a non-dependant aged: 16–17 in work etc. 80 35 18–20 in work etc. 80 225 21-pension age in work etc. 275 The total of these figures overstates the total number of households affected because some will contain a non-dependant in more than one category.
It is not possible to provide a breakdown of losses. In any case the householder should not lose financially because non-dependants will be expected to contribute rather more towards the cost of rent and rates. However, the maximum possible reductions in benefit for non-dependants, are as follows: they apply to both standard and certificated cases.
Maximum reduction in benefit per non-dependant (£ a week) Non-dependant aged From rates assistance From rent assistance (or mortgage interest assistance in supplementary benefit) 16–17 in work etc. 0.90 2.20 18–20 in work etc. 0.45 2.20 21-pension age in work etc. 0.20 1.45
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a breakdown of the losses to claimants which will arise from the cuts in housing benefit expenditure announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his financial statement on 17 November, 59W showing the total number of households suffering financial loss and a breakdown of these by (a) tenure groups (council tenants—tenants of private landlords or housing associations-owner occupiers), (b) household type (pensioner households — families with dependent children — other), (c) income brackets and (d) the amount of benefit which will be lost each week per household, showing the number of households losing up to 75p per week, between 75p and £1 per week, between £1 and £1.50 per week, between £1.50 and £2 per week, and more than £2 per week.
§ Dr. BoysonThe following estimates show a breakdown of the 2.2 million households in Great Britain who will be affected by the proposed changes to the tapers above the needs allowance and the proposed increase in the minima for standard cases. All figures are in thousands and discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding.
(c) and (d)—the table below shows a distribution of those affected by distance from the needs allowance and size of weekly loss. Thousands Distance above the needs allowance Size of loss Below the needs allowance 0–£10 £10.01–£20 £20.01–£30 30.01–£40 £40+ Total 1p–75p 30 550 260 200 110 130 1,280 76p-£1.00 10 70 10 20 20 90 220 £1.01–£1.50 0 40 80 20 30 70 230 £1.51–£2.00 0 * 90 10 10 20 130 £2.01+ 0 0 70 110 80 50 310 Total 40 660 500 360 260 350 2,170 Note:
* indicates number less than 5,000 but greater than 0.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the total local authority expenditure on setting-up costs for housing benefit incurred in 1982–83; and what is his estimate for costs to be incurred in 1983–84;
(2) what were the costs to local authorities of administering the housing benefit scheme in 1983–84, broken down as follows (a) total costs, (b) less expenditure attributable to continuation of the former rent rebate, rent allowance and rate rebate schemes and (c) less savings reported by local authorities as a direct result of the introduction of housing benefit.
§ Dr. BoysonThe current estimate of local authorities' expenditure on setting-up costs incurred in 1982–83 is £8.5 million. It is too early to make a firm estimate of the costs to local authorities of administering the housing benefit scheme in 1983–84.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown on 29 November 1983, Official Report, c. 473–74, he will estimate how many pensioners will lose more than (a) £1 a week, (b) £1.25 a week and (c) £1.50 a week and over as a result of the changes in housing benefit regulations.
§ Dr. BoysonThe estimates show the number of pensioner households affected by the proposed changes in the tapers above the needs allowance and by the proposed increases in the minima for standard cases.
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(a) tenure groups LA tenants 950 Private tenants (including housing association tenants) 190 Owner Occupiers 1,020 Total 2,170 (b) Household type Pensioner* 1,330 Families with children 460 Others 380 Total 2,170 Note:
* the small number of pensioners with dependent children have been counted as pensioners.
Numbers losing Pensioner households 000s (a)£1–£1.24 80 (b)£1.25–£1.49 50 (c) £1.50 and over 210
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown on 29 November 1983, Official Report, c. 473–74, he will estimate total savings to the Treasury as a result of cuts in eligibility of certain occupational pensioners for housing benefits.
§ Dr. BoysonI regret that information is not available on which to make a reliable estimate. Whilst we hold data about the number of pensioners and their total income, we do not have separate data about the breakdown of income as between occupational pension and other sources.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the changes to housing benefit regulations announced in the autumn economic statement will make any occupational pensioners worse off than any supplementary pensioners receiving housing benefit.
§ Dr. BoysonHousing benefit supplement will protect occupational pensioners affected by the changes from being taken below supplementary benefit levels, provided that they satisfy the eligibility conditions for supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners lost all entitlement 61W to rent rebates and allowances and rate rebates through the taper changes introduced in the new housing benefit scheme to April 1983.
§ Dr. BoysonWe estimate that approximately 120,000 pensioner households lost entitlement to benefit in April 1983 because of the taper changes at that time.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the minimum and average income above the needs allowance at which occupational pensioners will start to lose money under the changes to housing benefit outlined in the autumn economic statement.
§ Dr. BoysonThe proposed changes to the tapers will affect everyone whose income is above the needs allowance. The needs allowances for pensioners are £43.80 for a single person and £64.25 for a couple—£9.75 above state retirement pension levels.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the total number of supplementary benefit claimants who were floated off benefit as a result of the introduction of the new housing benefit; and if he will break down this total according to whether the claimant was (a) a pensioner, (b) unemployed, (c) sick, (d) a one parent family and (e) other.
§ Dr. BoysonIt is estimated that 296,000 supplementary benefit claimants were floated off benefit in April 1983. There were:
- (a) 234,000 pensioners;
- (b) 28,000 unemployed;
- (c) 25,000 sick;
- (d) 3,000 one-parent families;
- (e) 5,000 others.
The components do not add up to the total because of rounding.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the proposed housing benefit changes and the 10-day consultation period for representations to be made on these changes, he will ask the Social Security Advisory Committee to extend the time limit for making representations.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. We want to give local authorities as much time as possible to prepare for changes in April. This means that the consultation period on the proposals and the Government's consideration of views must be completed urgently.