§ Mr. MoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the working of the housing benefit direct payment procedure, particularly with regard to delays in payment and failure by recipients of benefit always to make rental payments; what changes are being considered to the guidance notes to local authorities; and what other measures are being considered.
§ Miss WiddecombeFull statutory responsibility for the administration of the housing benefit scheme rests with local authorities, which are required to ensure that the system is working effectively and in accordance with the rules of the scheme. Regulations prescribe that claims should be processed within 14 days of receipt of all the necessary information, or as soon as possible thereafter. Where, through no fault of the applicant, a claim cannot be settled within 14 days, interim payments should be made.
An important principle underlying the social security reforms is that individuals should be encouraged to take 428W responsibility for managing their own affairs. Housing benefit is, therefore, normally paid direct to private tenants in the form of a cash rent allowance to enable them to discharge their liability to their landlord. Nevertheless, regulations do give local authorities wide-ranging powers to pay benefit direct to a tenant's landlord, for example where rent arrears have accrued or where social or medical problems clearly indicate that help with budgeting is needed. A number of representations have been received about local authorities' use of those powers, and the Department therefore intends to issue further guidance on the relevant legislation to authorities in due course.