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1240/5(3671)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 29th JANUARY 2008
Question
Will the Minister release to members the number of recipients of Income Support who are resident in lodgings who will not qualify for a Winter Fuel Allowance under his department's regulations? Will he further inform mem what the estimated cost of their inclusion would be?
Will the Minister also inform members what evidence he has to support his Assistant Minister's assertion in the de on this issue on 16th January 2008, that many lodgers' heating bills are not separate but included in overall rent?
Answer
The term "lodgings" in the Cold Weather Payment Regulations identifies income support units that live in accommodation that is part of another household. The claimant is a lodger sharing domestic accommodation and is unlikely to pay for heating separately.
Individuals that live in lodging houses are normally regarded for income support purposes as occupying bedsits and these claimants are eligible for the cold weather payment, if they satisfy the other necessary conditions.
To date, six claimants have declared themselves as lodgers. Only one of these claimants would qualify for the cold weather payment if it were extended to lodgers. The other claimants do not satisfy the other requirements (i.e that the household includes an individual over 65 years old OR a child under 3 years old OR an individual with a high level personal care component).
The inclusion of one additional claimant would be of the order of £200 per winter, depending on the actual temperatures experienced.