§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many local offices are now operating a different policy with regard to applications for grants from the social fund than the one operating at the start of the financial year.
§ Mr. ScottApplications for awards from the social fund are decided locally by independent social fund officers. In making decisions, social fund officers are required to follow the law and the Secretary of State's directions and take into account guidance contained in the social fund manual. A copy of the social fund manual is available in the Library.
Guidance as to the general level of priority that may be met is given by the area social fund officer (normally the
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Table 1:Comparison of benefit rates Nov. 1978 rates in cash Nov. 1979 rates in cash Nov. 1978 rates in April 1989 prices Nov. 1979 rates in April 1989 prices April 1989 rates in cash Ratio of benefit to gross earnings Nov. 1978 Ratio of benefit to gross earnings Nov. 1979 Ratio of benefit to gross earnings April 1989 Nov. 1978 to April 1989 per cent. change Nov. 1979 to April 1989 per cent. change Per cent. Change3 between uprating periods Nov. 1978–79 to April 1988–89 £ £ £ £ £ per cent. per cent. per cent. Retirement Pension Single person 19.50 23.30 43.42 44.20 43.60 26.9 27.0 20.5 0.4 -1.4 7.06 Married couple 31.20 37.30 69.47 70.76 69.80 43.1 43.3 32.7 0.5 -1.4 7.16 Unemployment Benefit Single person 15.75 18.50 35.07 35.09 34.70 21.8 21.5 16.3 -1.1 -1.1 5.50 Married couple 25.50 29.95 56.78 56.81 56.10 35.2 34.7 26.3 -1.2 -1.3 5.35 Sickness Benefit Single person 15.75 18.50 35.07 35.09 33.20 21.8 21.5 15.6 -5.3 -5.4 0.83 Married couple 25.50 29.95 56.78 56.81 53.75 35.2 34.7 25.2 -5.3 -5.4 0.87 Industrial Disablement Benefit 31.90 38.00 71.03 72.09 71.20 44.1 44.1 33.4 0.2 -1.2 6.88 Industrial Death Benefit 20.05 23.85 44.65 45.24 43.60 27.7 27.7 20.5 -2.4 -3.6 4.13 Maternity Allowance Single person 15.75 16.50 35.07 35.09 33.20 21.8 21.5 15.6 -5.3 -5.4 0.83 Married couple 25.50 29.95 56.78 56.81 53.75 35.2 34.7 25.2 -5.3 -5.4 0.87 Non-contributory Retirement Pension Single person 11.70 14.00 26.05 26.56 26.20 16.2 16.2 12.3 0.6 -1.3 7.32 Married couple 18.75 22.40 41.75 42.49 41.85 25.9 26.0 19.6 0.2 -1.5 7.02 War Disablement Pension 31.90 38.00 71.03 72.09 71.20 44.1 44.1 33.4 0.2 -1.2 6.88 War Widows' Pension 25.55 30.45 56.89 57.76 56.90 35.3 35.3 26.7 0.0 -1.5 6.73 Attendance Allowance Higher rate 15.60 18.60 34.74 35.28 34.90 21.5 21.6 16.4 0.5 -1.1 7.16 Lower rate 10.40 12.40 23.16 23.52 23.30 14.4 14.4 10.9 0.6 -0.9 7.32 Invalid Care Allowance Single person 11.70 14.00 26.05 26.56 26.20 16.2 16.2 12.3 0.6 -1.3 7.32 Married couple 18.75 22.40 41.75 42.49 41.85 25.9 26.0 19.6 0.2 -1.5 7.02 Severe Disablement Allowance local office manager). This ensures that, as far as possible, applications of similar priority receive similar consideration throughout the year. Nevertheless, each application is considered on its individual circumstances. Levels of applications will vary during the year and thus the levels of priority being met in each local office will be adjusted from time to time.