§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will collect evidence and make a statement on the effect which the requirement that housing benefit be withdrawn after 52 weeks in hospital is having on the efforts of local authority social service departments to rehabilitate long-term hospital patients.
§ Mr. Peter LloydNinety per cent. of all hospital admissions last four weeks or less. In the small proportion of admissions lasting more than 52 weeks, there is no evidence that the withdrawal of housing benefit is by itself a major factor preventing the return of long-term hospital patients to the community. I would, however, be happy to consider any examples of such cases that the hon. Member or others may have in mind.
It is the duty of local authorities to find accommodation for people in vulnerable groups who are homeless through no fault of their own, including those who are unable to return to their former home following a stay in hospital. In addition, community care grants may be available to people leaving hospital to help them with the costs of re-establishing themselves in the Community.
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§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will consider giving some discretion to local authorities to extend the period of housing benefit in cases where single patients would otherwise be unable to retain their homes when they go into hospital for a long stay.
§ Mr. Peter LloydHousing benefit is intended to help people with their immediate costs by way of rent and rates and to alleviate current hardship. The main criterion for entitlement is therefore that the claimant must be paying rent or rates for a dwelling which he or she occupies as home. Fifty-two weeks is a reasonable limit to the period during which a claimant can be considered to be occupying a dwelling despite his or her physical absence. The
a. Supplementary Benefit 16–17 18 and over 80 and over Up to age 10 11–15 Ordinary Long term Ordinary Long term Single house-holders Single non-house-holders Couples both over 80 Couples one of whom is over 80 November 1980 Rate 7.30 10.90 13.10 16.65 17.05 21.70 27.40 21.95 43.95 43.70 At April 1988 Value 11.12 16.60 19.95 25.35 25.96 33.04 41.72 33.42 66.92 66.54 November 1981 Rate 7.90 11.90 14.30 18.15 18.60 23.65 29.85 23.90 47.85 47.60 At April 1988 Value 10.74 16.18 19.45 24.68 25.30 32.16 40.60 32.50 65.08 64.74 November 1982 Rate 8.75 13.15 15.80 20.05 20.55 26.15 32.95 26.40 52.80 52.55 At April 1988 Value 11.20 16.83 20.22 25.66 26.30 33.47 42.17 32.68 67.58 67.26 November 1983 Rate 9.15 13.70 16.50 20.90 21.45 27.25 34.35 27.50 55.05 54.80 At April 1988 Value 11.17 16.72 20.14 25.51 26.19 33.27 41.93 33.57 67.20 66.90 November 1984 Rate 9.60 14.35 17.30 21.90 22.45 28.55 35.95 28.80 57.60 57.35 At April 1988 Value 11.17 16.69 20.12 25.48 26.12 33.21 41.82 33.50 67.00 66.71 November 1985 Rate 10.10 15.10 18.20 23.00 23.60 30.00 37.75 30.25 60.50 60.25 At April 1988 Value 11.14 16.66 20.07 25.37 26.03 33.09 41.64 33.37 66.73 66.46 July 1986 Rate 10.20 15.30 18.40 23.25 23.85 30.35 38.15 30.60 61.15 60.90 At April 1988 Value 11.07 16.60 19.96 25.23 25.88 32.93 41.39 33.20 66.35 66.07 April 1987 Rate 10.40 15.60 18.75 23.70 24.35 30.95 38.90 31.20 62.35 62.10 At April 1988 Value 10.81 16.21 19.49 24.63 25.31 32.17 40.43 32.43 64.80 64.54
b. Income Support and Housing Benefit Couple April 1988 Up to age 11 11–15 16–17 18–24 Over 25 Both under 18 at least one over 18 Personal allowance 10.75 16.10 19.40 26.05 33.40 38.80 51.45 856W
c. Housing Benefit Pensioner (payable at age 65 for men, 60 for women) Dependent child addition (under 16 or in full lime education) Single £ Couple £ April 1983 Rate 11.40 42.15 61.75 1988 value 14.31 52.91 77.51 November 1983 Rate 11.90 43.80 64.25 1988 value 14.53 53.47 78.44 November 1984 application of this limit to the housing benefit entitlement of hospital in-patients does not appear to lead to undue hardship, but the situation is being kept under review.