§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security who will be responsible for meeting the case costs after April of those disabled people in supported lodgings who are new claimants, as distinct from existing claimants.
§ Mr. ScottAs under present social security arrangements, the care costs of supported lodgers will be met in a variety of ways after April 1989. Some will be able to meet these costs from their own resources, including social security benefits. Others will have these costs met in whole or in part by bodies such as local authorities. Those supported lodgers entitled to income support will receive housing benefit to help with their accommodation costs and normal income support (including any appropriate premiums) for other expenses. This change will mean that many disabled people in supported lodgings will be better off, after meeting charges for accommodation and the provision of care, than they would have been under existing benefit arrangements. The overall effect of the change will be to provide an estimated £1 million extra for supported lodgers as a whole.