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 benefit sanctions on levels of homelessness.

The Department has not made such an assessment.

Housing Benefit payments are not affected by the imposition of a sanction. Sanctions apply to the JSA payment or UC equivalent only.

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The departments aim is to assess and appropriately consider the support needs of anyone whose housing conditions are stopping them from finding and keeping a job. Support is based on individual needs and circumstances and is there to help homeless claimants find sustainable living accommodation, which in turn helps to remove barriers to employment.

The homeless easement under JSA allows Work Coaches to treat certain homeless claimants as meeting job seeking conditions for periods of longer than one week. There is no limit on the number of occasions in which it can be applied; and It is dependent upon the claimant taking reasonable action to find living accommodation.

On 16 November 2016, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced that immediate access to hardship payments will be extended to homeless claimants and those with mental health conditions.