§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners will receive transitional protection in respect of losses in excess of £2.50 a week arising from the new housing benefit scheme; and if he will estimate the average amount of the weekly additional transitional payment.
§ Mr. PortilloWe estimate that some 350,000 people ca n benefit from the transitional payments scheme. Approximately one half of these are pensioners. The data are not reliable enough for us to estimate the average payment for a particular client group.
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§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of housing benefit claimants who are likely still to be losers after transitional protection payments are made.
§ Mr. PortilloI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), for Western Isles (Mr. Macdonald) and for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Callaghan) on 14 June.
§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which categories of claimants whose housing benefit have been reduced or withdrawn will not benefit from the transitional arrangements; if he will list those so involved; and if he will give the total numbers involved.
§ Mr. Portillo[holding answer 3 May 1988]: Payments will not be made to anyone who does not fall into one of the following groups:
- Families with children (including lone parents).
- Pensioners (over 60).
- The long term sick and disabled (that is those to whom the disability or severe disability premium applies in the housing benefit calculation).
- People in receipt of an industrial injuries benefit, a war disablement pension, a widow's pension or a war widow's pension.
The scheme is not designed for claimants of income support at the beginning of April as they will have been receiving maximum housing benefit. No accurate estimate exists of the numbers not covered.