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Written question asked by Baroness Sherlock (Labour) on Monday, 11 March 2019, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 25 March 2019. It was answered by Baroness Buscombe (Conservative) on Wednesday, 20 March 2019 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Employment and Support Allowance

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, for individuals identified as entitled to income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) but who were moved to contributory-based ESA from incapacity benefit, any assessment is being undertaken of the amount of (1) council tax benefit, and (2) council tax support to which those individuals would have been entitled; and if so, what plans there are to compensate them for this cost.

Answer

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support Schemes are operated by local authorities. These schemes have a range of eligibility criteria and those affected by the ESA underpayment exercises may have qualified under alternative eligibility criteria.

However, as part of the ESA underpayment exercise we are liaising with Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and we are informing Local Authorities of any new, past awards of income-related ESA in line with our business as usual procedures. This will support local authorities to consider further any possible impacts of the ESA underpayment exercise.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL14428
Session
2017-19
Related items
Employment and Support Allowance
Monday, 1 April 2019
Written questions
House of Lords
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Council tax benefits Compensation Incapacity benefit Maladministration Employment and support allowance Underpayments Council tax reduction schemes
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk