Written question asked by David Laws (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 24 May 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 June 2012. It was answered by Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 14 June 2012 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Housing Benefit

Question

(2) how many people aged 18 to 21 years old claiming housing benefit also claimed (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment support allowance on incapacity benefit in the latest period for which figures are available.

[110486]

Mr Laws:

Answer

The requested information on the number of housing benefit claimants by age is provided in the following table:

Housing benefit recipients by age: February 2012
Age	Number of recipients
Total	5,004,500
18-21	156,890
Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE)

Information on the numbers of housing benefit claimants also claiming (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance is not currently available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Notes:

1. Age groups are based on the age on the count date (second Thursday in the month), of either:

(a) the recipient if they are single, or

(b) the eider of the recipient or partner if claiming as a couple

2. Recipients are as at the second Thursday of the month.

3. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and February 2012 is the most recent available.

4. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 110486; 546 cc524-5W
Session: 2012-13
Subjects: Housing benefit Jobseeker's allowance Incapacity benefit Young people Employment and support allowance
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk

Housing Benefit

Secondary information

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