FI16804

Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information regarding Housing Benefit claims for Exempt or Supported Accommodation within your local authority area. Where possible, please provide the most recent available data (ideally for the latest full financial year, and if available the previous two financial years for comparison). 

  1. Number of Claims: How many Housing Benefit claims relating to Exempt / Supported Accommodation were received by the council during the last financial year?
  2. Residents Supported: How many individuals currently living within the borough are receiving Housing Benefit for Exempt / Supported Accommodation?
  3. Total Expenditure: What is the total weekly or annual Housing Benefit expenditure paid by the council for residents living in Exempt / Supported Accommodation?
  4. Average Cost: What is the average weekly Housing Benefit amount per resident paid for Exempt / Supported Accommodation?
  5. Range of Awards: What are the highest and lowest weekly Housing Benefit awards currently being paid for Exempt / Supported Accommodation?
  6. Processing Time: What is the average processing time for a Housing Benefit claim relating to Exempt / Supported Accommodation, from submission of a complete application with all supporting documentation to the claim being assessed and awarded?
  7. Application Volumes: Approximately how many new Exempt / Supported Accommodation Housing Benefit applications does the council receive per year?
  8. Providers Operating in the Borough: How many providers currently operate Exempt / Supported Accommodation within the borough, and if possible please indicate the approximate number of schemes or units operated by: Charities Community Interest Companies (CICs) Registered Providers / Housing Associations Private landlords or other provider types
  9. Housing Benefit Subsidy from Central Government: Of the Housing Benefit expenditure relating to Exempt / Supported Accommodation:
    1. How much is reclaimed by the council from central government (DWP Housing Benefit subsidy)?
    2. What percentage of the total cost does this typically represent?
  10. Council Policy Toward Providers: Does the council have a formal approval, accreditation, or partnership process for new providers wishing to operate Exempt / Supported Accommodation within the borough?

Response

  1. It is not possible to answer this question because we do not keep a record of whether or not a claim is exempt/supported or not when the claim is unsuccessful and no Housing Benefit is paid. However, we estimate this at 330.
  2. 276.
  3. Based on the current caseload - £85,633.61 per week
  4. Based on the current caseload - £310.27 per week
  5. Based on the current caseload - £468.17 and £66.08 per week
  6. We do not record this information specifically for supported or exempt accommodation so cannot answer this question.
  7. It is only since May 2025 that we have had a dedicated exempt/supported accommodation claim form which allows us to differentiate between the different type of applications received. Using this information, we estimate the number to be: 155.
  8. There are currently 22 providers of which 14 are not for profit, registered social landlords. The remainder (8 ) are charities or community interest companies.
  9. It is not possible to answer this question because the subsidy area which covers registered social landlords covers both exempt/supported and standard claims so the value cannot be differentiated between the two. However, using the information provided within this form, the estimated value is £4,452,947.72. The total Housing Benefit paid for 2025/26 is estimated to be £19,196,456 with subsidy claimed of £18,809,065.
  10. Not currently though this is being considered as part of the wider changes, which include the supported accommodation strategy and licensing arrangements under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act.