HC Deb 15 December 1988 vol 143 cc697-8W
Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for housing benefit transitional payments are still outstanding; and if all such cases will be finalised by the end of 1988.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Up to 9 December 396,000 applications had been received at the transitional payments unit. Of these, 314,000 have been assessed and 146,000 cases are now receiving payments. The majority of the outstanding cases are awaiting the return of the inquiry form which is sent to the relevant local authority to obtain housing benefit details. Local authorities are being contacted asking them to deal with the forms as quickly as possible. The unit is processing cases as soon as these inquiry forms are returned by local authorities. All outstanding cases will be cleared once the relevant forms have been sent back.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average weekly payment currently paid out in housing benefit transitional payments; and what is the equivalent estimated sum in the next financial year.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The current average weekly payment of housing benefit transitional payment is £4.06, but this figure has fluctuated over the period since payments began. This will continue up to 31 March 1989 which is the cut-off date for applications to be made. It is not therefore possible to predict the average payment for the next financial year until after this date when all applications have been processed.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the current estimated time for which housing benefit transitional payments are likely to continue.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

No decision has yet been made on how transitional payments will finally be phased out although it has always been made clear that these payments will be reduced as people's circumstances change and the need for them is reduced. We have already announced that transitional payments will be reduced in the majority of cases by £2 per week next April. Some payments will therefore cease after the first year and others will not be paid after the end of year two. However, where large payments are being made the need will continue for several years.