§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many of the 532 people found by the Rough Sleepers' Unit to be sleeping rough were at the time subject to benefit sanctions; what percentage of the total this represents; and what were the extents and durations of the sanctions concerned. [HL2640]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Neither the RSU nor the Department for Work and Pensions records this information. However any person, including those sleeping rough, who has passed the habitual residency test is able to claim benefits at the income support rate, even if they do not have a national insurance number.
In addition, multi-disciplinary contact and assessment teams (CATs) in major cities across England work with vulnerable rough sleepers to help them into accommodation. CATs ensure that benefit claims are set up and broker solutions with the Department for Work and Pensions. In London, homeless person liaison officers working for the Department for Work and Pensions also target benefits advice and support in shelters, hostels and day centres.
The relaxation of the verification framework allows rough sleepers 13 weeks to verify their benefit claim after entering a direct access hostel. In addition, rolling shelters provide accommodation, which is free at the point of access, for vulnerable rough sleepers irrespective of whether they are subject to benefits sanctions.