To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) average and (b) maximum period between receipt of an application for (i) housing and (ii) council tax benefit and the first payment arising from such a claim was in the most recent period for which figures are available. (283452)

[holding answer 2 July 2009]: In the fourth quarter of 2007-08 the national average time for processing new housing benefit claims was 25.5 calendar days and for new council tax benefit claims was 23.9 calendar days.

For the same period the maximum time for processing new housing benefit claims at local authority level (not case level) was an average of calendar 66.6 days, and the maximum time for processing new council tax benefit claims at local authority level (not case level) was an average of 62.2 calendar days.

Source:

Quarterly Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Administration Data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the amount of (a) housing benefit, (b) council tax benefit, (c) industrial injuries disablement benefit, (d) carer's allowance, (e) jobseeker's allowance and (f) incapacity benefit unclaimed in the last 12 months for which figures are available. (284222)

The latest estimates of take-up of means-tested benefits in Great Britain, covering income support, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income-based) are published in the report 'Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2007-08'. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Estimates of the sum of unclaimed industrial injuries disablement benefit, carer's allowance and incapacity benefit are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how much (a) citizens of other EU member states and (b) non-EU citizens claimed in benefits in the UK in 2008; (284875)

The information requested is not available.