Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by John Leech (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Monday, 8 December 2014 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Under-occupancy Penalty

Question: How many people have been forced to move from social housing into more expensive private rented accommodation, where the housing benefit bill has actually risen, and how much has it cost the Department?

Answer

Each local authority is dealing with this matter differently. We have given a huge amount of support, through the discretionary housing payments,

so some will move, some will not, and some have had their rents dealt with and have stayed in place. We have trebled the support to £345 million, and more than 392,000 DHP awards were made last year. As I said, each authority is doing it differently. For example, Sheffield city council is using DHPs to pay removal costs and provide decorating, while Southwark and Islington councils are paying additional incentives through mutual exchanging with overcrowded households. They are all doing different things, but they are basically getting it right. We were warned that arrears would rise, but actually housing association arrears are lower than they were last year.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 589 c632
Session: 2014-15
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Housing benefit Social rented housing
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk

Under-occupancy Penalty

Secondary information

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