§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the prescribed amounts from 19th July and arrangements for claiming family income supplement.
§ Mr. OrmeFrom 19th July the prescribed amounts will rise by £2.50 to the following levels:
Number of Children in the family Prescribed amount of gross income below which family income supplement will be payable £ 1 41.50 2 45.00 3 48.50 4 52.00 For each additional child the pres-scribed amount will increase by £3.50.
Under the transitional arrangements which operate before an uprating claims for family income supplement received on or after 24th May will be considered under the new prescribed amounts.
I would urge any working family whose present gross income is below these amounts to claim without delay. Leaflets (FIS 1), which include a claim form 399W and explain how to claim FIS, are available from post offices and local social security offices.
Families who receive FIS are also entitled automatically to certain other benefits, including exemption from NHS charges for prescriptions, glasses and dental treatment, free milk and vitamins for expectant mothers and children under school age and free school meals.