§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he intends to establish a permanent central fund for hostel residents previously dependent on board and lodgings payments.
§ Mr. Peter LloydNo. From October 1989, existing claimants will have any shortfall between their new and old levels of benefit made good by special transitional payments of income support for as long as they continue to live in the same hostel. To help hostel finances. a shortfall between the level of hostel charge met by housing benefit and that formerly met by income support will continue to be met until April 1991. From that date, the money made available by the October benefit change will be redirected to existing hostel funding sources. It is not a function of the social security system to fund hostels but claimants will be able to obtain help with accommodation costs through housing benefit.