HC Deb 19 November 1985 vol 87 c151W
Mr. Clay

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the total cost of (a) paying a 7 per cent. increase in invalidity benefit to all invalidity pensioners and (b) paying a 7 per cent. increase to all other social security beneficiaries, broken down by category.

Mr. Major

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the cost of this month's uprating, when the great majority of benefits will increase by 7 per cent. Invalidity benefit will, however, increase by 11.8 per cent. because of the restoration of the 5 per cent. abatement introduced in 1980.

The total net cost of this uprating of invalidity benefit is about £170 million in a full year. The figure takes account of the restoration of the abatement, the introduction by the Social Security Act 1985 of an offset between invalidity allowance and the additional component, and the effect on supplementary benefit entitlement.

The full year net costs of uprating other main benefits are:

Benefit Cost £ million
Retirement pension 1,120
Widows' benefits 55
Unemployment benefit 115
Sickness benefit 20
Invalid care allowance 1
Attendance allowance 45
Severe disablement allowance 20
Mobility allowance 30
Industrial injuries benefits 30
War pensions 35
Maternity allowance 15
Child benefit* 100
One parent benefit 10
Family income supplement* 35
Supplementary benefits* 230
Housing benefit*

Notes:

1. All figures are rounded

2. Benefits marked * increase by an amount different from seven per cent.

3. The cost of increasing supplementary benefit and housing benefit is reduced by the relatively higher uprating of other benefits.

The total cost of the uprating is about £2,050 million.