Housing benefit

memb

Why is this excluded  in the cost of living payments 

Robbie64

Probably because it is administered by local authorities rather than central Government. All CoL payments are made by central Government using data avialable to it from DWP and HMRC computer systems. There may also be a question of whether including HB is fair on home owners who would not benefit despite possibly being in the same situation. With the latter though, UC does include people who have housing costs.

When Rishi Sunak first drew up CoL plans while Chancellor, he did mention that councils could make CoL payments to people on HB from funds that central Government had paid to local authorities. This would be in addition to the £150 that was paid to people who were liable for council tax.

NedS

Robbie64 said:

Probably because it is administered by local authorities rather than central Government. All CoL payments are made by central Government using data avialable to it from DWP and HMRC computer systems. There may also be a question of whether including HB is fair on home owners who would not benefit despite possibly being in the same situation. With the latter though, UC does include people who have housing costs.

When Rishi Sunak first drew up CoL plans while Chancellor, he did mention that councils could make CoL payments to people on HB from funds that central Government had paid to local authorities. This would be in addition to the £150 that was paid to people who were liable for council tax.

and the Chancellor announced today that government support for the discretionary Household Support Fund (administered by Local Authorities) would be extended for a further 12 months