§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the range of qualifying benefits for eligibility for extended housing benefit; what plans he has to extend the range; and what assistance with rent payments is available to people starting paid employment who have to work a month before being paid. [59339]
§ Angela EagleMy right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 3 November 1998,Official Report, columns 681-702, our intention to widen the group eligible for extended payments of Housing and Council Tax Benefit to include former Income Support claimants who were incapacitated. The effect of this change is to make extended payments available to all the poorest people returning to work after 26 weeks out of a job.
The Extended Payment scheme is designed to encourage the long term unemployed who are capable of work to take up work, by removing the uncertainty many face about whether they will be able to pay their rent and council tax during the gap between the last payment of benefit and receipt of their first wages. It allows claims for Housing and Council Tax Benefit to continue for the first four weeks after starting work, regardless of earnings.
We are also considering other ways of easing the transition into work. As the Welfare Reform Green Paper makes clear we are looking at a range of proposals for improving the work incentives offered by Housing Benefit. This review is examining Housing Benefit and the way it is delivered.