Housing Benefit non-take-up increasing sharply

Latest official figures published today show that the numbers entitled to Housing Benefit but not claiming it have risen sharply over the last 10 years with one in every six households in rented accommodation living in income poverty but not receiving Housing Benefit.

The Government estimates that among pensions, 15% of those who are eligible for Housing Benefit did not claim it in 2006/7 compared to 9% in 1997/8.

For working age households the Government's estimate is that non-claimants have increased by more than four times from 4% in 1997/8 to 17% in 2006/7.