Housing benefit element

The request was successful.

Dear Somerset West and Taunton Council,

How many people have their housing benefit paid directly to their landlord? In last year?
What is the Council criteria for having the housing benefit element paid directly to a landlord? Eg private tenant

Yours faithfully,

John Brown

Customer Services - CMC, Somerset West and Taunton Council

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Somerset West and Taunton, Somerset West and Taunton Council

1 Attachment

Reference: FOI-172656743
Date of request: 05/02/2020
Title of request: How many people have their housing benefit paid directly
to their landlord? In last year? What is the Council criteria for having
the housing benefit element paid directly to a landlord? Eg private tenant

Dear John Brown,

Thank you for your request for information, this email is your official
acknowledgement.

Your request has been logged, please quote the reference in any future
correspondence relating to your request.

Unless you told us the previous disclosures answered your query your
request will be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and
you will receive an official response within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely

Information Management

Somerset West and Taunton

Somerset West and Taunton, Somerset West and Taunton Council

Reference: FOI-172656743
Date of request: 2020-02-05 14:45:10
Title of request: How many people have their housing benefit paid directly
to their landlord? In last year? What is the Council criteria for having
the housing benefit element paid directly to a landlord? Eg private tenant

Dear John Brown,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information submission to Somerset West and
Taunton Council. Your request has been dealt with under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

Here is a formal response to your request:
As at 12 February 2020, we had 3,416 customers in receipt of rent
allowance, including Local Housing Allowance (LHA). Of which: 1,566
received their Housing Benefit direct 1,850 had their Housing Benefit paid
direct to the landlord. Prior to the introduction of LHA, we could make
payments direct to the landlord at the claimant's request. Since the
introduction of LHA, we have made payments direct to landlords where: It
is in the claimant's interest to do so There is evidence the claimant is
unlikely to pay The claimant does not have the mental capacity to deal
with their finances The claimant is more than 8 weeks in arrears with
their rent.
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The Information Commissioners Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire, SK9 5AF 
Website: [2]https://ico.org.uk
 
Yours sincerely
 
Information Management

Somerset West and Taunton

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