Housing Benefit (Hansard, 24 October 1988)

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if a deadline has been imposed on claims for transitional protection for those people recently affected by reductions in housing benefit.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
No cut-off date for applications has yet been announced.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps were taken to inform potential 59W claimants of the transitional protection of housing benefit; and what proportion of potential claimants have applied for transitional protection.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Over 8 million leaflets have been printed and more than 4 million of these have been distributed to various advice centres, DSS local offices and local authorities, together with posters encouraging people to apply. A national press publicity campaign was launched during week commencing 23 May and a further campaign was launched at the end of July. In addition some local authorities have been advising claimants directly where they are able to anticipate eligibility to transitional payments. A freepost address and a freeline telephone number have been in operation since early May,

Thousands

Below the Supplementary Benefit Scale Rates In receipt of Supplementary Benefit or HBS¹ Up to 140 per cent. of the Supplementary Benefit Benefit Scale Rate (but not receiving Supp Benefit)

Estimated number of persons in 1985:

Over pension age 960 1,880 3,690

Under pension age 1,460 5,080 4,780

Estimated number of children in 1985: in families

Over pension age ² ² ²

Under pension age 360 1,890 1,650

Estimated number of heads of households in 1985:

In full-time work 240 — 980

Unemployed 320 1,540 490

Sick or disabled 50 220 210

¹ HBS = Housing Benefit Supplement.

² below 10,000.

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of couples, either married or cohabiting, in which the man is unemployed and the woman is employed or receiving social security benefits as head of household.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
I regret that the information is not available.

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give figures showing the numbers and proportion of all households in Great Britain in which the head of household is a woman.

§ Mrs. Currie
I have been asked to reply.
It is estimated that in spring 1987 there were 21.404 million households in Great Britain, of which 5.086 million or 23.8 per cent. were headed by a woman.
Notes:
1. The source of the estimates is the 1987 Labour Force Survey. The estimates were produced by the Department of Employment.
2. All married couple households are assumed to be headed by the man.
3. Analysis of General Household Survey results for 1985 shows that in that year about 50 per cent. of households headed by a woman consisted of a woman aged 60 or over living alone; and that a further 14 per cent. of such households contained at least one child (i.e. person aged 15 or under).

Thousands
	Below the Supplementary Benefit Scale Rates	In receipt of Supplementary Benefit or HBS¹	Up to 140 per cent. of the Supplementary Benefit Benefit Scale Rate (but not receiving Supp Benefit)
Estimated number of persons in 1985:
Over pension age	960	1,880	3,690
Under pension age	1,460	5,080	4,780
Estimated number of children in 1985: in families
Over pension age	²	²	²
Under pension age	360	1,890	1,650
Estimated number of heads of households in 1985:
In full-time work	240	—	980
Unemployed	320	1,540	490
Sick or disabled	50	220	210
¹ HBS = Housing Benefit Supplement.
² below 10,000.