Apply the Housing Benefit personal allowance for main-phase ESA claimants #2216

Summary

Approved plan C4 adds the working-age main-phase ESA personal-allowance exception through one pre-assessed claimant-specific Boolean and one derived adjustment, using the existing adult monetary parameters. Existing ESA variables provide reported amounts and capital screens, not award phase, so those amounts cannot establish this condition. Five files; at most one Boolean input; no full ESA entitlement model. Working-age Housing Benefit applicable amounts (Schedule 3 Part 1: age bands, ESA main-phase exception and children); NI Housing Benefit personal allowances and main-phase ESA condition (Schedule 4 Part I paragraphs 1 and 1A)

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: Current working-age personal allowance rule; 2024 regression amounts
• Jurisdictions: Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Findings and implementation parts

1. Under-age claimants entitled to main-phase ESA should receive the higher corresponding personal allowance.

Sources: Working-age Housing Benefit applicable amounts (Schedule 3 Part 1: age bands, ESA main-phase exception and children); NI Housing Benefit personal allowances and main-phase ESA condition (Schedule 4 Part I paragraphs 1 and 1A)

• Add housing_benefit_has_main_phase_esa (claimant personally, not either partner) and a derived replacement adjustment, integrate the adjustment in applicable amount, and add phase/age/regime/household controls plus a changelog. Use existing allowance parameters and respect direct parameter reforms. Five files. Working-age Housing Benefit applicable amounts (Schedule 3 Part 1: age bands, ESA main-phase exception and children); NI Housing Benefit personal allowances and main-phase ESA condition (Schedule 4 Part I paragraphs 1 and 1A)
  • Add or update reference at policyengine_uk/variables/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/housing_benefit_applicable_amount.py → reference and adult personal allowance adjustment using Working-age Housing Benefit applicable amounts (Schedule 3 Part 1: age bands, ESA main-phase exception and children); NI Housing Benefit personal allowances and main-phase ESA condition (Schedule 4 Part I paragraphs 1 and 1A).

Uncertainties and exclusions

No verified phase data source. Missing/false input retains the age-based approximation and may understate the allowance. Do not infer phase or legal entitlement from an annual ESA payment or a generic disability flag. Pension-age allowances, adult premiums and current rate changes remain separate; #1925 owns published adult rates.