Work and Pensions written question – answered at on 6 February 2013.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether people in arrears on their rental payment and who are recipients of housing benefit will automatically continue to have their housing benefit paid directly to landlords following the introduction of universal credit.
We are not assuming that all people in rent arrears will automatically continue to have their rent paid directly to the landlord following the introduction of universal credit. To do so would risk labelling all individuals in these circumstances as being financially incapable, when they could already have plans in place for clearing these arrears. However, we do accept that for some claimants we will pay their housing costs direct to the landlord, and this alternative payment arrangement would be considered on a case by case basis, depending on the claimants circumstances. It would be time-limited and delivered in conjunction with appropriate budgeting support to ensure they make a successful transition over time to monthly budgeting wherever possible.
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