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Local Housing Allowance

Volume 494: debated on Monday 15 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the reason was for the decision in Budget 2009 not to pay tenants the local housing allowance rate when their actual rent is less. (279562)

The Government are committed to help people keep a decent roof over their heads but cannot afford in the current climate to pay people more than they need to do that. In the interests of fairness our priority is to target benefits where they are needed most. The removal of the £15 excess will mean that some people will receive less benefit but, importantly, this should not affect their ability to meet their rent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate has been made of the number of landlords who have not accepted potential tenants who are on local housing allowance housing benefit on the grounds that the benefit is not paid directly to the landlord. (279563)