Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason people in receipt of housing benefit are not eligible for the £650 cost of living payment.

The Government is rightly targeting the £650 Cost of Living Payment support at low-income households in receipt of qualifying means tested benefits.

Housing Benefit is not a qualifying means tested benefit. It is also administered by Local Authorities, often paid directly to a landlord. Payments to those receiving only Housing Benefit could not therefore be delivered in a quick, accurate and straightforward manner by DWP.

Housing Benefit claimants may also be receiving a qualifying means tested benefit and will therefore be eligible for the £650 Cost of Living Payment for that reason.

For those that are not eligible for the means-tested Cost of Living Payment, or for families that still need additional support; the Government is providing an additional £500 million to help households with the cost of essentials, bringing total funding for this support to £1.5 billion. In England, this will take the form of an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £421m and is administered by Local Authorities. Additionally they may benefit from other parts of the package of support, including £400 for all domestic electricity customers and The Energy Price Guarantee.

In England those who pay Council Tax in Bands A-D should have also received a £150 rebate.

The guidance with the full list of support can be found at:

Cost of living support factsheet: 26 May 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)