Social Security Benefits: Care Homes

8 May 2007

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which means tested benefits people resident in residential care homes are eligible to claim. [135325]

Mr. Plaskitt: People in care homes can claim income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or pension credit; entitlement to these benefits will depend on their individual circumstances. There is a more generous capital disregard for all these benefits for claimants living in care homes.

Except for a few claimants with preserved rights, housing benefit is not available to care home residents.

As care home residents do not have a council tax liability they have no entitlement to council tax benefit.