Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of Temporary Housing Subsidy rates on local authority budgets.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP pays local authorities a Housing Benefit subsidy for temporary accommodation cases but this is subject to limits to incentivise local authorities to find settled accommodation for residents and to ensure good value for money for the taxpayer. Local authorities usually pay the costs of temporary accommodation upfront and then claim back from DWP through the Housing Benefit subsidy.
The rate of subsidy is usually based on 90% of the January 2011 Local Housing Allowance rates and maximum subsidy caps of £500 and £375 per week are in place in some high rent areas.
DWP collects data on local authority Housing Benefit expenditure and levels of Housing Benefit subsidy paid, including temporary accommodation expenditure in England, Scotland and Wales. Housing Benefit expenditure and subsidy data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
We understand that local authorities are subject to many funding pressures which are impacting their budgets. However, any increases to the subsidy rates for temporary accommodation would need to be taken in the context of the government’s missions, goals on housing, and the fiscal position.
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total uprated value of the State Pension will be from 1 April 2025, by constituency.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to the Triple Lock, which means that in April 2025, the basic and new State pension will increase by the higher of the growth in average earnings, price increases or 2.5%.
The relevant percentage increase applied to the State Pension in April 2025 is subject to a statutory review conducted by the Secretary of State. The review will typically begin in October, once the relevant indices have been published by the Office for National Statistics. On completion of the review, the Secretary of State will lay a statement in Parliament.
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people who will be in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment by constituency from 1 April 2025; and what the total value of the (a) Winter Fuel Payment and (b) State Pension uprating will be by constituency from 1 April 2025.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We cannot estimate the number of people who will be in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment by constituency from 1 April 2025.
The Secretary of State will undertake her annual statutory review of benefits and State Pensions for the next financial year ahead of the Autumn Budget. This means that we cannot estimate what the total value of the Winter Fuel Payment and State Pension uprating will be by constituency from 1 April 2025.