§ Mr. Jim MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987, he is empowered to direct that payments of income support related to accommodation charges be made to the organisation providing the accommodation in cases where such charges have been incurred but the claimant has moved on between the date of claim and the first pay day; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloDirect payment may be made to another person to protect the claimant's interests. This power is used in exceptional circumstances where, for example, there is clear evidence that the claimant is failing to maintain his family.
The independent adjudicating authorities may also consider direct payment where the claimant has failed to budget for an accommodation charge. Direct payment may be made automatically to a hostel run by a voluntary organisation which provides facilities for alcoholics or drug addicts or which is akin to a resettlement unit.
§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of supplementary benefit claimants who had 19-year-old children in full-time education or training courses, for whom they were receiving additional dependants' benefit, who have since lost their entitlement because income support is available only for dependent children aged under 19 years; if he will estimate how much benefit they have lost; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloNo family receiving supplementary benefit including an addition for a 19-year-old dependant lost benefit as a result of the change to income support, because transitional protection ensures that they suffer no loss of income.
§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of disabled and mentally handicapped/disturbed claimants who were previously paid direct by order book who have been 279W notified of the change to income support which now requires them to be available for, work or claim sickness benefit; how many have (a)subsequently made claims as available for work, (b)been disqualified as not capable of, or available for work and (c) claimed modified income support as referred to in Department of Employment circular 109/279, 17 March; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottThe estimates requested are not available. One of the basic conditions for receiving income support is that claimants must be available for work unless specifically exempted. Anyone who is incapable of work because of disease or mental or physical disability is exempt and should also claim the appropriate incapacity benefit.
§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether directions have been issued to his Department's local offices to ensure that women who have moved out of the matrimonial home because of a violent partner, and have sought refuge in a women's refuge, are not denied income support because they are owners or joint owners of the home they have fled.
§ Mr. PortilloYes; and amending legislation came into force on 30 May.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of people claiming supplementary benefit from his Department's local offices in Kensington in 1979; and what is the current number of income support claimants from those offices.
§ Mr. Portillo[holding answer 10 June 1988]: The total number of people in receipt of supplementary benefit on 15 May 1979 from the Department's office at Kensington was 9,1071. The total number of people in receipt of income support on 31 May 1988 at the same office was 8,454, although these figures are provisional and subject to amendment.
Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.
1 This figure may, however, overstate the number of people receiving supplementary benefit. The footnote to the
280W
Old benefit system at hypothetical rates April 1988 Leicester L.A. Married couple with two children aged four and six Earnings head Tax NI FIS Child benefit Rent Rent rebate Rates Rate rebate Fares to work Free school meals Free welfare milk Net weekly spending power 60.00 0.00 3.00 28.70 14.50 21.44 18.28 8.46 5.86 5.85 2.55 1.83 92.97 70.00 0.00 4.90 23.70 14.50 21.44 17.03 8.46 5.46 5.85 2.55 1.83 94.42 80.00 1.22 5.60 18.70 14.50 21.44 15.78 8.46 5.06 5.85 2.55 1.83 95.85 90.00 3.92 6.30 13.70 14.50 21.44 14.53 8.46 4.66 5.85 2.55 1.83 95.80 100.00 6.62 7.00 8.70 14.50 21.44 13.28 8.46 4.26 5.85 2.55 1.83 95.75 110.00 9.32 9.90 3.70 14.50 21.44 11.76 8.46 3.69 5.85 2.55 1.83 93.06 120.00 12.02 10.80 0.00 14.50 21.44 9.68 8.46 2.87 5.85 2.55 0.00 91.03 130.00 14.72 11.70 0.00 14.50 21.44 6.38 8.46 1.57 5.86 2.55 0.00 92.83 140.00 17.42 12.60 0.00 14.50 21.44 3.08 8.46 0.00 5.85 2.55 0.00 94.36 150.00 20.12 13.50 0.00 14.50 21.44 0.00 8.46 0.00 5.85 0.00 0.00 95.13 160.00 22.82 14.40 0.00 14.50 21.44 0.00 8.46 0.00 5.85 0.00 0.00 101.53 170.00 25.52 15.30 0.00 14.50 21.44 0.00 8.46 0.00 5.85 0.00 0.00 107.93 reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves), on 31 March 1988, at columns 660–61, refers.