Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the contribution of the Minister for Employment to the Public Bill Committee on the Welfare Reform Bill of 31 March 2011, Official Report, column 335, how many of the 3,500 families receiving more than £25,000 a year in housing benefit are employed; and how many such tenancies are occupied by (a) a couple with (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four, (v) five and (vi) more than five children under 18 and (b) a lone parent with (A) one, (B) two, (C) three, (D) four, (E) five and (F) more than five children under 18.
Answer
Of the 3,510 housing benefit claimants under local housing allowance rules with a weekly award exceeding £481 per week (£25,000 if expressed as an annual value), approximately 1,020 were in work, 1,380 were couples with children and 1,920 were lone parents with children. Data on the number of children are not available.The figure for recipients in work includes all non-passported claims where either the claimant or their partner has declared any income from employment or self employment. This excludes people who may be doing some permitted work while in receipt of a passporting benefit (income-based jobseeker's allowance, income support, income related employment support allowance or guarantee credit).