§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many housing benefit applications were determined by each local authority in the London area in the last year for which data is available.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information available is in the table.
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Authority Total Claims April 1988–March 1989 Total Claims April 1989–March 1990 Total Claims April 1990–March 1991 City of London — — — Camden 31,452 32,283 42,688 Greenwich — — — Hackney — — — Hammersmith — 21,488 — Islington — 40,597 30,544 Kensington & Chelsea — — 23,427 Lambeth — — — Lewisham — — — Southwark — — 53,588 Tower Hamlets — 34,664 38,462 Wandsworth — — — Westminster 41,492 24,508 — Barking 30,126 36,172 29,466 Barnet — 48,528 24,241 Bexley 17,799 — — Brent 24,200 — — Bromley 18,632 — — Croydon — — — Ealing 62,680 40,982 39,131 Enfield 15,890 27,243 14,018 Haringey — — 12,960 Harrow 14,239 17,031 9,178 Havering 21,366 16,792 21,330 Hillingdon 39,089 18,601 19,887 Hounslow 32,075 47,058 29,358 Kingston 19,406 22,563 12,180 Merton 15,182 — —
Authority Total Claims April 1988–March 1989 Total Claims April 1989–March 1990 Total Claims April 1990–March 1991 Newham — — — Redbridge — 25,032 — Richmond — — — Sutton 15,311 15,751 8,918 Waltham Forest 35,786 36,916 31,496 Notes:
a. Figures for 1988–89 and 1989–90 relate to claims for rent rebates, rent allowances and/or rate rebates.
b. Figures for 1990–91 relate to claims for rent rebate and rent allowance only, following the introduction of community charge.
§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information is collected from local authorities on their performance in housing benefit management.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe housing benefit management information system collects key data on the number of claims processed within 14 days of receipt of all information necessary to assess the claim together with the number of review board hearings held within six weeks of request. Quarterly information on the number of outstanding claims will become available later this year. The returns also give other information which helps monitor performance. Full details are in circular HB/CCB (91)2 which is available in the Library.
§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance is given to local authorities on the acceptable time in which to determine a housing benefit application.
§ Miss WiddecombeFull statutory responsibility for the administration of the housing benefit scheme rests with local authorities which are required to ensure that the system is working effectively and in accordance with the rules of the scheme. Regulations prescribe that claims should be processed within 14 days of receipt of all the
(a) Claimant 16–17 Years Income Support Level Income £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 23.90 33.90 43.90 53.90 63.90 73.90 83.90 93.90 103.90 113.90 123.90 133.90 143.90 153.90 Housing Benefit Entitlement Rent 30 30 30.00 25.13 18.63 12.13 5.63 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Rent 50 50 5000 45.13 38.63 32.13 25.63 19.13 12.63 6.13 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Rent 100 100 100.00 95.13 88.63 82.13 75.63 69.13 62.63 56.13 49.63 43.13 36.63 30.13 23.63 Rent 150 150 150.00 145.13 138.63 132.13 125.63 119.13 112.63 106.13 99.63 93.13 86.63 80.13 73.63 178W necessary information, or as soon as possible thereafter. Where, through no fault of the applicant, a claim cannot be settled within 14 days, interim payments should be made. Guidance issued to local authorities by the Department reflects those provisions.
(b) Claimant 18–24 Years Income Support Level Income £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 31.40 41.40 51.40 61.40 71.40 81.40 91.40 101.40 111.40 121.40 131.40 141.40 151.40 Housing Benefit Entitlement Rent 30 30 26.75 20.25 13.75 72.5 0.75 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on(a) the proportion of all claims for housing benefit which have been processed within 14 days, (b) the proportion of local authorities meeting claims for housing benefit within 14 days and (c) the extent to which where local authorities do not meet this target they make interim payments.
§ Miss WiddecombeInformation on the processing of housing benefit claims to local authorities in 1990–91 is not yet available. However, data are available for approximately two-thirds of authorities for the year 1989–90. In that year about two-thirds of claims were processed within 14 days. Over 90 per cent. of authorities processed at least some claims within 14 days, and over 10 per cent. processed all claims within 14 days. Information on the provision of interim payments is not collected by the Department.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the housing benefit entitlement of a single person, living alone, whose sole income is what is currently available to a person on income support(a) for the ages of 16 and 17 years, (b) between the ages of 18 and 24 years and (c) between the age of 25 years and retirement age, where the private rented sector rent has been assessed as a reasonable market rent for housing benefit subsidy purposes as £30, £50, £100, and £150 per week, and the amount of housing benefit available as income rises by each £10 per week above income support level, up to £150 per week.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information requested is in the tables.
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Income Support Level Income £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 50 50 46.75 40.25 33.75 27.25 2075 14.25 7.75 1.25 Nil Nil Nil Nil Rent 100 100 96.75 90.25 83.75 77.25 70.75 64.25 57.75 51.25 44.75 38.25 31.75 25.25 Rent 150 150 146.75 140.25 133.75 127.25 120.75 114.25 107.75 101.25 94.75 88.25 81.75 75.25
(c) Claimant 25–60 Years Income Support Level Income £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 39.65 49.65 59.65 69.65 79.65 89.65 99.65 109.65 119.65 129.65 139.65 149.65 Housing Benefit Entitlement Rent 30 30 26.75 20.25 13.75 7.25 0.75 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Rent 50 50 46.75 40.25 3375 27.25 20.75 14.25 7-75 1.25 Nil Nil Nil Rent 100 100 9675 90.25 83.75 77.25 70.75 64.25 57.75 51.25 44.75 38.25 31.75 Rent 150 150 146.75 140.25 133.75 127.25 120.75 114.25 107.75 101.25 94.75 88.25 81.75 Notes:
1. 16–17–year-olds who have no choice but to live independently receive the higher income support rate appropriate to 18–24–year-olds.
2. The calculations assume that the claimant is not entitled to any premiums.
3. The amount of housing benefit quoted for each level of rent assumes that the rent is fully eligible for Housing Benefit.
4. All calculations are based on the assumption that the income referred to is earnings, to which a disregard of £5 is appropriate.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number of households claiming housing benefit whose payments are restricted by the local authority on the basis of a decision that the rent is unreasonably high, or the accommodation is considered too large.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe available information for 1989–90 suggests that there were between 15,000 and 30,000 housing benefit cases in Great Britain where benefit was restricted because the rent was considered unreasonably high. The number of cases where the accommodation is considered too large is not collected.
Source: Housing benefit management information system.