Correct 2015–2018 higher pension-age Housing Benefit allowances #2206

Summary

Approved plan A2 corrects the higher pension-age Housing Benefit allowance history for 2015–2018 in the three existing single, lone-parent and couple parameter files. These currently backdate the 2019 amounts into those years. No new inputs or formula changes are included; the historical under-65 category, later cohorts, current rates and projection methodology remain separate work. 2015 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age personal allowances); 2016 Housing Benefit uprating (Regulation 6: pension-age allowances and non-dependant deductions); 2017 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age allowances); 2018 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 6: pension-age allowances)

Audited model surface

• Audited release: policyengine-uk 2.106.1
• Audit unit: variable:housing_benefit_applicable_amount
• Last model modification: 2024-07-15
• Explicitly reviewed units:
  • variable:housing_benefit_applicable_amount — last model modification: 2024-07-15
• Audit date: 2026-10-09
• Periods reviewed: 2015–2018 higher category; preserve existing 2019 onward values
• Jurisdictions: Great Britain

Findings and implementation parts

1. The higher single/lone-parent and couple allowances should follow the enacted historical Orders, not the 2019 rates.

Sources: 2015 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age personal allowances); 2016 Housing Benefit uprating (Regulation 6: pension-age allowances and non-dependant deductions); 2017 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age allowances); 2018 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 6: pension-age allowances)

• Set single/lone-parent weekly amounts to £166.05, £168.70, £172.55, £176.40 and couple amounts to £248.30, £252.30, £258.15, £263.80 for 2015–2018, retain £181/£270.60 from 2019, cite each dated value, add twelve precise historical cases and a changelog. Five files, no inputs. 2015 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age personal allowances); 2016 Housing Benefit uprating (Regulation 6: pension-age allowances and non-dependant deductions); 2017 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age allowances); 2018 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 6: pension-age allowances)
  • Add or update reference at policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/allowances/single/aged.yaml → values.2015–2018.reference using 2015 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age personal allowances); 2016 Housing Benefit uprating (Regulation 6: pension-age allowances and non-dependant deductions); 2017 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age allowances); 2018 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 6: pension-age allowances).
  • Add or update reference at policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/allowances/lone_parent/aged.yaml → values.2015–2018.reference using 2015 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age personal allowances); 2016 Housing Benefit uprating (Regulation 6: pension-age allowances and non-dependant deductions); 2017 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age allowances); 2018 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 6: pension-age allowances).
  • Add or update reference at policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/allowances/couple/aged.yaml → values.2015–2018.reference using 2015 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age personal allowances); 2016 Housing Benefit uprating (Regulation 6: pension-age allowances and non-dependant deductions); 2017 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 7: pension-age allowances); 2018 pension-age Housing Benefit rates (Schedule 6: pension-age allowances).

Uncertainties and exclusions

Only higher-category history. B1 will address under-65 routing separately. Existing #2092/#1925/#1913 retain 2020 onward rates, projections and later-cohort routing; preserve their changes when rebasing. Closed #2198/#2196/#2197 stay closed.