Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in the number of working people claiming housing benefit on housing benefit spending.

Historic and forecast Housing Benefit caseload and expenditure are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416959/Outturn-and-forecast-Budget-2015.xlsx

The effect of rising numbers of working claimants can be seen in the lines showing the ‘Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit only’ group, nearly all of whom are in work, and who are receiving Housing Benefit only on the grounds of being low income renters.

Further detailed statistics on Housing Benefit caseload and average weekly amounts are available at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk.