Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Housing Benefit: Supported Exempt Accommodation

Monday 30 November 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • No assessment has been made on the effectiveness of the more than minimal test for supported exempt accommodation housing benefit payments.
  • The annual housing benefit bill in Birmingham for supported exempt accommodation is over 200 million.
  • The majority of supported housing is provided by well-run registered social landlords regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing or the Charity Commission.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Shabana Mahmood Lab Birmingham Ladywood
Benefits & Welfare
Context

No specific assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the more than minimal test used to determine housing benefit payments in supported accommodation. Shabana Mahmood is concerned about inconsistencies and potential misuse by providers.

Question

What recent assessment have you made of the effectiveness of the more than minimal test for determining housing benefit payments for supported exempt accommodation?

Answer from Will Quince

No assessment has been made, but we are reviewing guidance to help improve consistency in decision making for supported exempt accommodation housing benefit payments.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The effectiveness of the more than minimal test was not evaluated.

How: Under Review

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Q2 Shabana Mahmood Lab Birmingham Ladywood
Housing Benefits & Welfare
Context

The annual housing benefit bill in Birmingham for supported exempt accommodation is £200 million. Many providers exploit weak regulations, causing misery for vulnerable tenants.

Question

The annual housing benefit bill in Birmingham for supported exempt accommodation is now a massive £200 million. Too many housing providers are exploiting the extremely weak regulations that govern the payment of enhanced housing benefit; all they have to do is show that the support they provide is more than minimal, and this is causing misery for vulnerable tenants and the communities they live in. So will the Minister meet me to discuss the situation in Birmingham, and will he bring forward urgent proposals to change the situation and get a grip of this growing national scandal?

Answer from Will Quince

Although we recognise there are problem areas, it is worth noting that the majority of supported housing is provided by well-run registered social landlords. These providers are regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing or the Charity Commission as applicable. However, I do recognise a problem exists and am willing to meet the hon. Lady.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No immediate proposals were brought forward.

How: Recognise, Problem Areas

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