The value to a claimant of free board and lodgings occurs, in the main, in the assessment of the benefit accruing to a young person living at home and claiming unemployment assistance. It covers the value of accommodation, meals, support and maintenance as well as generally sharing in the standard of living of the household and facilities which the household enjoys. The assessment achieves a degree of equity as between applicants in different household circumstances.
In this year's budget a minimum weekly payment of £5 was introduced for unemployment assistance claimants whose current entitlement is less than £5 and whose only means is the yearly value of free board and lodgings at home.
While the assessment procedure is kept under review there are no plans to remove the assessment. To change the system of assessment of the value of free board and lodgings in the assessment of means would have financial implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context.