§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what new instructions have been issued regarding counting money in claimants' current accounts as capital for the purpose of determining entitlement to housing benefit. [92575]
§ Angela EagleWe have not issued any new instructions regarding counting money in claimants' current accounts as capital for the purpose of determining entitlement to Housing Benefit. The policy remains that all holdings with a clear monetary value are treated as a claimant's capital. This includes the amount held in their current account after offsetting any amounts of income paid into the account used in the assessment of Housing Benefit entitlement.