Benefits (Hansard, 27 July 1989)

§ Mr. Yeo
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish new estimates of the take-up of supplementary benefit, housing benefit and family income supplement; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard
I have today placed in the Library technical notes setting out take-up estimates for supplementary benefit and housing benefit for 1985. A further note provides family income supplement take-up estimates based on the two years 1985 and 1986. These estimates confirm previous results and indicate that overall almost £9 out of every £10 of available income-related benefit expenditure is claimed. They also show that overall almost four out of every five people who are eligible for these benefits claim them. This demonstrates that. income-related benefits are an efficient and effective way of helping those in financial need.

§ Mrs. Beckett
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the changes in social security law since May 1979 which have affected the entitlement of(a) 16 to 17-year-olds, (b) 18 to 20-year-olds and (c) 21 to 25-year-olds to supplementary benefit or any other benefit or which have affected the entitlement to any benefit of their parents in the same format as his answer to the hon. Member for Derby, South of 20 December 1985, Official Report, column 422.

§ Mr. Chris Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the main changes in social security law since the end of 1985 specifically affecting the entitlement of young people and their parents, showing who was affected by the change and the relevant legislation in the same form as in theOfficial Report, 20 December 1985, column 422–6.

§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard
[holding answers 12 June and 29 June 1989]: I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to 879W the hon. Member for Derby South (Mrs. Beckett) on 20 December 1985, at columns 422–26. This listed the main changes from May 1979 to November 1985 in social

Date Change Persons Affected Legislation

November 1985 Extension to the categories of those aged 25 or less who can be treated as in board and lodging accommodation. Boarders aged 25 or less Supplementary Benefits (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous Provisions No. 2 Regulations 1985—SI 1985 No. 1835.

1986 Secretary of State empowered to recognise as education being received at home as full time education, if it began before the child became 16. Claimants aged 16–19 Social Security Act 1986

November 1986 Students: convenanted parental contribution contributable only to grant-aided period; excess taken into account over whole year—reduces loss of benefit during long vacation. Claimants aged 16–25 The Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations 1986—SI 1986 No. 1293.

November 1986 i. definition of "course of advanced education"; and ii. redefinition of "student". Students excluded from entitlement to Supplementary Benefit during Christmas and Easter vacations. Young people in higher education Supplementary Benefits (Conditions of Entitlement) Amendment Regulations 1986—SI 1986 No. 1010.

April 1987 Easter school leavers who still have examinations to take cannot claim Supplementary Benefit until their examinations are completed. Claimants aged 16–19 The Supplementary Benefit (Conditions of Entitlement) Amendment Regulations 1987—SI 1987 No. 358.

April 1987 Defect in SI 1982 No. 907 (estranged 19 year olds) amended. Also entitlement to Supplementary Benefit extended to 16–19 year olds who cannot be supported because their parent(s) are chronically sick, in prison, or unable to enter the country. Claimants aged 16–19 The Supplementary Benefit (Conditions of Entitlement) Amendment Regulations 1987. (SI 1987 No. 358).

April 1987 Disregard of excess of a custodianship allowance over child scale rate. Custodians of young people under 19 The Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Amendment Regulations 1987. (SI 1987 No. 660).

April 1987 Students: to be treated as possessing income equal to assessed parental/spouse's contribution to a student grant. Excess grant/covenant income to be taken fully into account Claimants aged 16–25 The Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Amendment Regulations 1987—SI 1987 No. 660

April 1987 Child Benefit to continue to be paid where a child leaves school before compulsory school age; it can be paid up to the terminal date after he attains compulsory school age Claimants aged 16–17 SI 1987 No. 357

April 1987 Revised definitions of "advanced education" and "full-time education" Claimants aged 16–19 SI 1987/No. 357

Child Benefit to continue to be payable in certain cases where a child has been entered for an external examination Claimants aged 16–19 SI 1987/No. 357

April 1988 19 year olds still in non-advanced education no longer treated as members of their parent's families—able to claim in their own right 19 year olds in non-advanced education Income Support (General) Regulations 1987—SI 1987 No. 1967

April 1988 Full disregard in Income Support, Housing Benefit, Family Credit for payments by Local Authorities under Section 1 of the Child Care Act 1980 Young people under 18 Income Support (Gen.) Regs. 1987—SI 1987 No. 1967

April 1988 Local education authority awards to young people in further education and Educational Maintenance Allowances disregarded in full Parents of 16–19 years olds The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987. (SI 1987 No. 1967)

880W
security law specifically affecting the entitlements of young people and their parents. The following information lists the main changes from November 1985 to June 1989.
881W

Date Change Persons Affected Legislation

April 1988 Custodianship payments disregarded in full in child's capital in excess of £3,000 Custodians of young people under age 19 The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987. (SI 1987 No. 1967)

April 1988 Adoption Allowances disregarded in full in child's capital in excess of £3,000 Adopters of young people under age 19 The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987. (SI 1987 No. 1967)

April 1988 Shared children, only the party with primary responsibility can receive the Income Support dependency addition Parents of Young People under 19 Income Support (General) Regulations 1987. (SI 1987 No. 1967)

April 1988 Young person's/child's income may not be treated as claimant's above child's young persons applicable amount—disregard no longer restricted to boarding out or fostering/adoption allowances Aged 16–25 Housing Benefit General Regulations 1987 (No. 1971)

April 1988 Earnings disregards: complete disregard of all earnings of a child/young person who is still in full time education. £15 disregard for a lone parent £10 (£5 each) for a couple, £5 for a single claimant. £15 for a couple unemployed two or more years 16–18 year olds Housing Benefit General Regulations 1987 (No. 1971)

April 1988 Dependant child's or young person's capital not treated as belonging to claimant 16–18 Housing Benefit General Regulations 1987 (No. 1971)

August 1988 Definition of "youth training scheme" introduced into regulations 16–19 SI 1988/1227

September 1988 Cessation of entitlement to income support for people under 18 years old except for those in certain specified categories. 16–17 Social Security Act 1988 Income Support (General) Amendment No. 3 Regulations 1988.

September 1988 A young person who has ceased full time education can nonetheless continue to be treated as a child for a short period after the terminal date if he is registered for work or for the youth training scheme. 16–17 SI 1988/1227 Social Security Act 1988.

September 1988 Period when most young people are ineligible for Income Support on leaving relevant education extended. Single people aged 16–17 and couples both of whom aged less than 18 who are required to be available for work. Income Support (General) Amendment No. 3 Regulations 1988—SI 1988 No. 1228.

September 1988 Introduction of employment training; training premium and training bonus not taken into account for Income Support purposes. 18–25 Income Support (General) Amendment Regulations 1988 Income Support (General) Amendment No. 4 Regulations 1988.

April 1989 Increase in personal allowances by 50p in excess of the amount needed to cover inflation. All young people aged 1673x2013;17 on Income Support, and parents claiming for 16–18 year olds. The Social Security Benefits Uprating Order 1989—SI 1989 No. 43

April 1989 Increase in personal allowances by 50p in excess of the amount needed to cover inflation. All young people aged 16–18 who are independently liable for housing costs and therefore able to claim Housing Benefit. The Social Security Benefits Uprating Order 1989—SI 1989 No. 43.

April 1989 Increase in personal allowances by 50p in excess of the amount needed to cover inflation. For Family Credit, parents claiming for 16–17 year olds inclusive. The Social Security Benefits Uprating Order 1989—SI 1989 No. 43.

June 1989 Extra help for 16 and 17 year olds in receipt of Income Support who have to live independently. This group will get the personal allowance normally appropriate to 18–24 year olds. 16–17 Family Credit and Income Support (General) Amendment Regulations 1989. SI 1034.

June 1989 All 16–17 year old Housing Benefit claimants will get the same Personal Allowance as 18–24 year olds. Housing Benefit (General) Amendment No. 3 Regulations 1989.

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Date	Change	Persons Affected	Legislation
November 1985	Extension to the categories of those aged 25 or less who can be treated as in board and lodging accommodation.	Boarders aged 25 or less	Supplementary Benefits (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous Provisions No. 2 Regulations 1985—SI 1985 No. 1835.
1986	Secretary of State empowered to recognise as education being received at home as full time education, if it began before the child became 16.	Claimants aged 16–19	Social Security Act 1986
November 1986	Students: convenanted parental contribution contributable only to grant-aided period; excess taken into account over whole year—reduces loss of benefit during long vacation.	Claimants aged 16–25	The Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations 1986—SI 1986 No. 1293.
November 1986	i. definition of "course of advanced education"; and ii. redefinition of "student". Students excluded from entitlement to Supplementary Benefit during Christmas and Easter vacations.	Young people in higher education	Supplementary Benefits (Conditions of Entitlement) Amendment Regulations 1986—SI 1986 No. 1010.
April 1987	Easter school leavers who still have examinations to take cannot claim Supplementary Benefit until their examinations are completed.	Claimants aged 16–19	The Supplementary Benefit (Conditions of Entitlement) Amendment Regulations 1987—SI 1987 No. 358.
April 1987	Defect in SI 1982 No. 907 (estranged 19 year olds) amended. Also entitlement to Supplementary Benefit extended to 16–19 year olds who cannot be supported because their parent(s) are chronically sick, in prison, or unable to enter the country.	Claimants aged 16–19	The Supplementary Benefit (Conditions of Entitlement) Amendment Regulations 1987. (SI 1987 No. 358).
April 1987	Disregard of excess of a custodianship allowance over child scale rate.	Custodians of young people under 19	The Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Amendment Regulations 1987. (SI 1987 No. 660).
April 1987	Students: to be treated as possessing income equal to assessed parental/spouse's contribution to a student grant. Excess grant/covenant income to be taken fully into account	Claimants aged 16–25	The Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Amendment Regulations 1987—SI 1987 No. 660
April 1987	Child Benefit to continue to be paid where a child leaves school before compulsory school age; it can be paid up to the terminal date after he attains compulsory school age	Claimants aged 16–17	SI 1987 No. 357
April 1987	Revised definitions of "advanced education" and "full-time education"	Claimants aged 16–19	SI 1987/No. 357
	Child Benefit to continue to be payable in certain cases where a child has been entered for an external examination	Claimants aged 16–19	SI 1987/No. 357
April 1988	19 year olds still in non-advanced education no longer treated as members of their parent's families—able to claim in their own right	19 year olds in non-advanced education	Income Support (General) Regulations 1987—SI 1987 No. 1967
April 1988	Full disregard in Income Support, Housing Benefit, Family Credit for payments by Local Authorities under Section 1 of the Child Care Act 1980	Young people under 18	Income Support (Gen.) Regs. 1987—SI 1987 No. 1967
April 1988	Local education authority awards to young people in further education and Educational Maintenance Allowances disregarded in full	Parents of 16–19 years olds	The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987. (SI 1987 No. 1967)