HC Deb 15 November 1984 vol 67 cc360-1W
Mr. Temple-Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on progress being made on take-up of housing benefit supplement by those eligible to receive it;

(2) whether he is satisfied with the role being played by local authorities in encouraging take-up of housing benefit supplement; and if there are any plans to change or revise that role.

Mr. Whitney

The Department has provided a formula to assist local authorities in the identification of pensioners who might qualify for housing benefit supplement or supplementary benefit; and work is continuing to find a suitable formula to cover non-pensioners. The administration of the housing benefits scheme is the responsibility of individual local authorities who must decide what degree of priority to attach to this area of work. There are no plans to make changes in advance of the report of the independent housing benefit review, which is due by the end of this year.

Mr. Temple-Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the present practices with regard to back-dating of claims for housing benefit supplement; to when they are back-dated; and if there are any plans to charge these practices.

Mr. Whitney

Where a claim for standard housing benefit is made within one month of the notification that a claim for supplementary benefit has been unsuccessful entitlement to housing benefit supplement will be backdated to the date of the supplementary benefit claim. Where an unsuccessful claim for supplementary benefit falls within one month of the notification of entitlement to standard housing benefit, housing benefit supplement will be backdated to the date of the claim for standard housing benefit. Where a person can show that there was good cause for his failure to claim supplementary benefit earlier housing benefit supplement may be backdated and paid for a period before the claim was received.

There are no plans to change these arrangements.

Mr. Temple-Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce the findings of the review of the housing benefit scheme.

Mr. Whitney

The review team has been asked to report by the end of the year. It is expected that the Government's conclusions will be published in the early part of 1985.