A third of all housing benefit claimants live in the private rented sector, the latest government figures show.

According to Inside Housing:

The figures, released today, showed housing benefit was paid to 3.34 million tenants of social landlords and 1.66 million private tenants in February.

The data also showed 3.7 million, or three quarters, of the 5 million claimants were aged under 65. There were 3.92 million single housing benefit claimants, 1.21 million of them with at least one child.

Figures also showed that around 500,000 tenants were affected by the bedroom tax. Of these, 397,000 had one spare bedroom and 78,000 had two. Information was unavailable for the remaining 1,600.

The overall average housing benefit award was £90.26, but 73,000 tenants were paid £250 per week or more with 47,000 of these living in the private sector. The government capped overall benefit payments, including housing benefit, at £500 per week this year.

The statistics can be viewed here.