Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of young people in supported accommodation who have (a) reduced working hours and (b) turned down employment opportunities due to the tapering of housing benefit.

The department does not routinely collect management information on reports of customers limiting working hours or turning down employment opportunities but we do have anecdotal evidence of this occurring.

This is why it remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment.

The department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in Supported and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department is considering the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders and other government departments.

As funding is required to allow a change, any future decisions will take account of the current fiscal context.