Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the proportional uptake of Housing Benefit by people of pension age in Portsmouth South constituency; and what steps he is taking to help ensure that Housing Benefit is paid to all such people entitled to it.

The information on the uptake of Housing Benefit by pensioners is not available at constituency level. The Department publishes estimates of benefit take-up in the Official Statistics series Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up.

Gov.uk provides information on the availability of Housing Benefit and advice on how to claim. Local Authorities determine any take-up activity locally to ensure those who require housing support make the necessary application as required by legislation.