§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of rent increases in 2003–04 as a result of the formula rent on the pension credit arrangements to be brought in in 2003. [20839]
§ Ms KeebleUnder the Pension Credit, which replaces the minimum income guarantee from October 2003, all housing benefit recipients in the social sector will, as now, have any increases in their rent paid for in full.
In addition, DWP Ministers have announced that the starting income threshold for housing benefit will be raised in line with the pension credit, so that no pensioner loses housing benefit as a result of the more generous pension credit.