Housing and Council Tax Benefits

HC Deb 22 February 1999 vol 326 c170W

Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit extension period for each year since the introduction of the concession. [72189]

Angela Eagle

The information is in the table.

Housing benefit/council tax benefit extended payments
	Housing benefit	Council tax benefit
1996–97
Total extended payment applications	110,000	100,000
Number of successful applications	87,000	85,000
Percentage of successful applications	82	83
1997–98 Provisional
Total extended payment applications	170,000	170,000
Number of successful applications	150,000	140,000
Percentage of successful applications	85	85

Notes:

1. Figures have been rounded to two significant figures.

2. Figures refer to a benefit unit, which may be a single person or a couple.

3. 1997–98 figures are provisional. Final figures will be released in HB/CTB Quarterly Summary.

4. Statistics—May 1998, on 25 February 1999.

Source:

Quarterly Administrative returns April 1996 to March 1998.