Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to take steps to remove the non-dependent charge in Housing Benefit for disadvantaged groups.

The general policy for non-dependant deductions is that adults (such as adult children) living in the household of people claiming Housing Benefit should contribute to the household expenses of the accommodation where they live.

There are easements within the rules, which apply if the householder (or their partner) is blind, getting Attendance Allowance, the care component of Disability Living Allowance, the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, or Armed Forces Independence Payment. In these circumstances, no non-dependant deductions would be made.

This easement is designed to help sustain disabled householders in their own home rather than increase the risk of them moving into alternative accommodation, which might be more expensive and /or less appropriate for them.

There are currently no plans to review the non-dependant deductions policy in Housing Benefit.