§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the capital disregard (a) for supplementary benefit and (b) for local authority accommodation after 24 November.
§ Mrs. ChalkerFrom 24 November 1980, there will be a fixed capital limit of £2,000 for supplementary benefit; capital of £2,000 or less will be wholly disregarded and where capital exceeds £2,000, supplementary benefit will not be payable.
In assessing the ability to pay of a resident in local authority accommodation, present arrangements are that the first £1,200 of that resident's capital is disregarded. On every £50 in excess of that sum, there is an assumed weekly income of 25p which is fully taken into account when assessing the charge. The question of local authority charging policy generally in the personal social services, including the assessment of ability to pay charges for residential accommodation, is at present being reviewed by the Government.