Mr Bob Ainsworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Bob Ainsworth on 2014-03-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the number of tenant evictions resulting from the decision to pay housing benefit direct to claimants rather than landlords.

Steve Webb

The Government does not expect an increase in the number of evictions in relation to the direct payments of housing benefit.

Most tenants in the Private Rented Sector are already used to receiving their housing payments directly, and managing their own finances.

For other tenants, including many in the Social Rented Sector, this will represent more of a change. We are working with the advice sector to ensure that claimants are able to access budgeting support services to help them to manage their money successfully. Money advice will be offered at a national and local level, and include a mix of online, telephone and face to face services.

A minority of claimants may require alternative payment arrangements. This might include paying rent direct to the landlord, making payments more frequently than monthly, or splitting the payment for a couple.