Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to end non-dependant reductions from Housing Benefit for disadvantaged groups.

As previously stated, 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.