§ Mr. Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those benefits, pensions and other sources of income which are totally disregarded in assessing income for the calculation of eligibility for rent and rate rebates; and whether any of these disregards will be changed with the introduction of the housing benefit scheme in April.
§ Mr. RossiThe items of income which are totally disregarded for rent and rate rebate purposes are set out in schedule 3 to the Housing Finance Act 1972. These disregards will be carried forward into the housing benefits scheme. In addition, travel allowances paid to people attending TOPS courses and interest on national savings certificates will be disregarded in full. There is no statutory disregard of the latter under the current schemes but it is normally disregarded.