Housing benefit: slow on the take-up?

Gibb, K. (2016) Housing benefit: slow on the take-up? Contemporary Social Science, 11(1), pp. 40-51. (doi: 10.1080/21582041.2016.1156733)

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Abstract

Housing benefit (HB) plays a pivotal dual role within both the income maintenance system for the UK and in terms subsidising housing for lower income households. But as a means-tested benefit open to both social and private tenants, it has significantly less than 100% take-up on both caseload (eligible tenants) and expenditure levels. Estimates suggest that £2.5 billion is unclaimed annually. This paper sets out how the HB system works and sets the argument in the context of the fundamental welfare reforms introduced and underway since 2010. The paper examines the literature on take-up and recent data on HB take-up before exploring the possible policy responses that might address the shortfall.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Gibb, Professor Ken
Authors: Gibb, K.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
Journal Name:Contemporary Social Science
Publisher:Routledge
ISSN:2158-2041
ISSN (Online):2158-205X
Published Online:14 April 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 Academy of Social Sciences
First Published:First published in Contemporary Social Science 11(1): 40-51
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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