§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report such information as is available to his Department concerning the number and distribution by type of case of persons in receipt of social security benefit who are also in receipt of rent rebates, rate rebates and rent allowances and other forms of housing benefit; and what is the total amount of security and housing benefit, respectively, paid out under each heading.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to permit his Department to apply to have a fair rent registered in relation to properties for which housing benefit is paid; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MajorNo. Local authorities are responsible for administering housing benefits and, where there is a regulated tenancy, authorities in England and Wales may apply to the rent officer for the registration of a fair rent as they consider necessary.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how many households are in receipt of housing benefit; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing how the total is divided up between categories of claimant.
§ Mr. MajorI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Fulham (Mr. Raynsford) on 12 May at column383.
§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Fulham (Mr. Raynsford) 23 May, Official Report, columns 386–390, if he will publish fresh figures, for benefit entitlement, taking into account, entitlement to family income supplement and family credit.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 17 July 1986, c. 613–614]: Two of the four tables in the earlier reply referred only to pensioners without dependent children. Tables 1 and 2 show information comparable to that in tables 1B and 2B in the earlier reply, but assuming family income supplement or family credit is also in payment. The amounts of FIS/FC are shown separately. It should be borne in mind that because the family credit scheme will be considerably more generous, on the basis of our illustrative assumptions, than the present family income supplement scheme, only about 3 per cent. of all family credit recipients will also be receiving assistance through housing benefit with both rents and rates.
705W
Weekly gross earnings level Unemployment benefit £45 £55 £65 £75 £85 £95 £110 £125 Earnings level at which housing benefit no longer payable Family income supplement 25.50 25.50 21.80 16.80 11.80 6.80 1.80 — — — (ii) 75 per cent, average Housing benefit 16.20 15.94 14.22 12.57 10.92 9.15 7.05 1.26 — 112.64 Family income supplement 25.50 25.50 21.80 16.80 11.80 6.80 1.80 — — — (iii) 125 per cent, average Housing benefit 26.66 22.79 20.70 1905 17.40 15.63 13.53 7.99 1.53 *128.58 Family income supplement 25.50 25.50 21.80 16.80 11.80 6.80 1.80 — — — Couple, one child (i) Average rent and rates Housing benefit 19.90 21.05 18.97 17.32 15.67 14.02 12.21 6.66 0.54 125.16 Family income supplement 24.70 25.50 21.80 16.80 11.80 6.80 1.80 — — — (ii) 75 per cent, average Housing benefit 16.20 16.20 15.73 14.08 12.43 10.78 8.97 3.42 — 117.19 Family income supplement 24.70 25.50 21.80 16.80 11.80 6.80 1.80 — — — (iii) 125 per cent, average Housing benefit 23.14 24.29 22.21 20.56 18.91 17.26 15.45 9.90 3.60 133.13 Family income supplement 24.70 25.50 21.80 16.80 11.80 6.80 1.80 — — — Single parent, two children (i) Average rent and rates Housing benefit 22.80 21.75 18.62 16.97 15.32 13.66 11.56 8.41 2.06 130.39 Family income supplement 28.50 28.50 28.00 23.00 18.00 13.00 8.00 0.50 — — (ii) 75 per cent, average Housing benefit 17.11 17.11 15.20 13.55 11.90 10.24 8.14 5.00 — 121.86 Family income supplement 28.50 28.50 28.00 23.00 18.00 13.00 8.00 0.50 — — (iii) 125 per cent, average Housing benefit 28 48 25.17 22.04 20.39 18.74 17.08 14.98 11.84 5.74 138.93 Family income supplement 28.50 28.50 28.00 23.00 18.00 13.00 8.00 0.50 — — Couple, two children (i) Average rent and rates Housing benefit 21.85 22.60 20.12 18.47 16.82 15.17 13.48 10.32 4.24 134.94 Family income supplement 28.50 28.50 28.00 23.00 18.00 13.00 8.00 0.50 — — (ii) 75 per cent, average Housing benefit 17.11 17.11 16.70 15.05 13.40 11.75 10.05 6.91 0.91 126.41 Family income supplement 28.50 28.50 28.00 23.00 18.00 13.00 8.00 0.50 — — (iii) 125 per cent, average Housing benefit 25.28 26.68 23.54 21.89 20.24 18.59 16.89 13.75 7.67 143.48 Family income supplement 28.50 28.50 28.00 23.00 18.00 13.00 8.00 0.50 — — 706W707W
Table 2 Amounts of weekly housing benefit and family credit under proposed scheme—Working households (with one wage earner) Weekly gross earnings level Unemployment benefit £45 £55 £65 £75 £85 £95 £110 £125 Earnings level at which housing benefit no longer payable Single parent, one child (i) Average rent and rales Housing benefit 14.20 4.36 — — — — — — — 50.11 Family credit 40.15 40.15 38.00 31.40 26.70 22.30 19.20 12.80 6.40 (+40.15 FC) (ii) 75 per cent, average Housing benefit 9.11 — — — — — — — — 43.35 Family credit 40.15 40.15 38.00 31.40 26.70 22.30 19.20 12.80 6.40 (+40.15 FC) (iii) 125 per cent, average Housing benefit 19.29 9.45 4.45 1.88 66p — — — — 76.40 Family credit 40.15 40.15 38.00 31.40 26.70 22.30 19.20 12.80 6.40 (+ 26.10 FC) Couple, one child (i) Average rent and rates Housing benefit 8.29 11.52 6.52 4.36 2.73 1.04 — — — 92.90 Family credit 40.15 40.15 38.00 31.40 26.70 22.30 19.20 12.80 6.40 (+20.10 FC) (ii) 75 per cent, average Housing benefit 3.20 6.43 1.17 — — — — — — 59.33 Family credit 40.15 40.15 38.00 31.40 26.70 22.30 19.20 12.80 6.40 (+ 35.10 FC) (iii) 125 per cent, average Housing benefit 13.38 16.61 11.61 9.45 7.82 6.30 5.26 306 81p 127.82 Family credit 40.15 40.15 38.00 31.40 26.70 22.30 19.20 12.80 6.40 (+ 5.20 FC) Single parent, two children (i) Average rent and rates Housing benefit 13.62 3.78 — — — — — — — 49.72 Family credit 45.45 45.45 43.30 36.70 32.00 27.60 24.50 18.10 11.70 (+45.45 FC) (ii) 75 per cent, average Housing benefit 8.24 — — — — — — — — 42.48 Family credit 45.45 45.45 43.30 36.70 32.00 27.60 24.50 18.10 11.70 (+ 45.45 FC) (iii) 125 per cent, average Housing benefit 19.01 9.17 4.17 1.94 72p — — — — 77.02 Family credit 45.45 45.45 43.30 36.70 3200 27.60 24.50 18.10 11.70 (+ 31.10 FC) Couple, two children (i) Average rent and rates Housing benefit 7.71 10.94 5.94 3.78 1.96 82p — — — 90.81 Family credit 45.45 45.45 43.30 36.70 32.00 27.60 24.50 18.10 11.70 (+ 26.30 FC) (ii) 75 per cent, average Housing benefit 2.01 5.56 68p — — — — — — 56.41 Family credit 45.45 45.45 43.30 36.70 32.00 27.60 24.50 18.10 11.70 (+42.30 FC)
Weekly gross earnings level Unemployment benefit £45 £55 £65 £75 £85 £95 £110 £125 Earnings level at which housing benefit no longer payable (iii) 125 per cent, average Housing benefit 13.11 16.33 11.33 9.17 7.55 6.03 4.99 2.52 87p 128.48 Family credit 45.45 45.45 43.30 36.70 32.00 27.60 24.50 18.10 11.70 (+10.20 FC) Notes
1. The final column of table 1 is the same as the final column of table 1B in the earlier reply, except for the figure marked with an asterisk which was incorrectly printed in the earlier table.
2. The following average rent and rate levels have been assumed: £15.40 and £6.20 per week respectively for households with one child, and £16.50 and £6.30 per week with two children.
3. The children arc assumed to be aged 15 (one child) and 10 and 16 (two children).
4. Child benefit and one-parent benefit have been assumed to be in payment, in addition to the earnings levels shown in the table, at November 1985 rates.
5. The first column should be interpreted to mean "earnings level equivalent to unemployment benefit", since unemployment benefit is not normally payable to recipients of FIS/Family Credit.
6. The final column shows the earnings level at which housing benefit is no longer payable if the household is also receiving FIS/Family Credit. In table 2, the amount of Family Credit assumed to be in payment is shown in brackets. Child benefit (and one-parent benefit where appropriate) should be added to the total of the figures in the final column in order to find the income level at which housing benefit is no longer payable.
7. November 1985 tax rates and allowances have been assumed and the current minimum benefit level of 50 pence has been used throughout. In table 2, other assumptions arc based on the illustrative figures used in the Technical Annex to Cmnd. 9691 including tapers of 60 per cent. (rents), and 20 per cent. (rates) and a minimum contribution towards domestic rates of 20 per cent.