HC Deb 16 June 1993 vol 226 c622W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to whom housing benefit payments should be made for alcohol residential centre clients.

Mr. Burt

The same provisions governing direct payment of housing benefit apply to alcohol residential centre clients as to all other tenants. Usually the benefit is paid to tenants, although it must be paid direct to landlords if a tenant has eight weeks or more rent arrears or direct payments of income support are being made. Local authorities may also pay housing benefit direct with the claimant's consent, or if it is in the claimant's best interests to do so, or if a claimant has left a property owing rent.