Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of extending the Shared Accommodation Rate to social rented housing on the ability of single people under the age of 35 to access general needs social rented housing.

Full impact and equality impact assessments will be undertaken in due course.

Single people under 35 will be exempt from the Shared Accommodation Rate if they fall into one of the categories below:

• They have children or a non-dependent living with them;
• They qualify for a severe disability premium;
• If they have left care and are under the age of 22;
• If they have an extra bedroom for a non-resident carer providing overnight care;
• If they are a foster carer;
• They are aged 25 to 34 years old and have spent at least 3 months in a homeless hostel or hostel specialising in rehabilitation and resettlement;
• They are aged 25 to 34 years old who are an ex-offender managed under a multi-agency MAPPA agreement.

For those who are not covered by these exemptions, they will be able to apply for Discretionary Housing Payments if they need help meeting the shortfall in their rent.