To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of tenants who will be able to obtain a Discretionary Housing Payment from their local authority in 2022-23 to help cover a shortfall arising from the impact of the benefit cap, spare room subsidy and freeze on Local Housing Allowance rates as a result of the Government's decision to reduce funding from £140 million in 2021-22 to £100 million in 2022-23.

No such estimate has been made.

Since 2011, the government has provided almost £1.5 billion in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities to help support claimants who require further financial assistance with housing costs.

In addition to the central government contribution, of £100 million for 2022/23, English and Welsh local authorities can top up Discretionary Housing Payment funding up to a maximum of two and a half times this figure using their own funds.

We also provide local authorities with non-statutory guidance to assist with their decision making. This includes supporting those who are impacted by the Local Housing Allowance, Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy and the benefit cap.