§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail the ways in which, after the up-rating of supplementary benefits and rent and rate needs allowances in November, the balance of advantage for people, and in particular blind and handicapped people, of drawing either supplementary benefit or rent and rate rebates may have changed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe question whether someone is better off by claiming supplementary benefit or a rent rebate/rent allowance and rate rebate depends on his158W income, the size of his family, and the amount of his housing costs. In general, the upratings should not disturb the existing balance of advantage for most people, though for someone who could now get much the same benefit from either scheme supplementary benefit will normally become slightly more advantageous. For three groups, however, special provisions are being introduced which could change the balance of advantage more markedly in favour of the scheme where the change is being made, as follows:
- (a) pensioners over 75 and families with a child under 5—a supplementary benefit heating addition of 95p a week (if not already receiving it);
- (b) blind and handicapped people to whom section 29(1) of the National Assistance Act 1948 applies, even though not registered under that section—the higher special needs allowance for handicapped people under the rebates schemes, instead of the ordinary needs allowance;
- (c) heads of households in part-time work—a disregard of £5 of their earnings under the rebates schemes.
It is not feasible to estimate the numbers who will be thus affected.