HC Deb 07 June 1989 vol 154 cc166-8W
Mr. Hannam

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the proposed lower thresholds for a renovation grant contained in the consultation paper "Renovation Grants: Proposed Test of Resources", for(a) a single disabled person with a disability premium, (b) a single disabled person with a severe disability premium, (c) a married couple, one of whom is in receipt of the disability premium, and (d) a married couple with two children one of whom is in receipt of the disability premium.

Mr. Trippier

The consultation paper proposes that the lower income threshold for the new renovation grants should be related to each household's circumstances. It would be calculated using weekly allowances and premiums broadly similar to those used in the calculation of housing and community charge benefits, with the addition of a £20 per week "renovation grant premium". Using the allowances and premiums currently in force under the housing benefit regulations, the lower income thresholds would be as follows:

  1. (a) Single disabled person: £68.60 (£3,567 pa)
  2. (b) Single severely disabled person: £94.80 (£4,930 pa)
  3. (c) Married couple, one disabled: £94.30 (£4,904 pa)
  4. (d) Married couple, two children, one disabled: £122.50 (£6,370 pa)

In each case the applicant is assumed to be between 25 and 59 years old and any children are 11 to 15. Where the applicant is younger a different personal allowance would apply, and there will be a scale of allowances for children of different age groups. There will also be different premiums for people aged 60 or over. The lower threshold will therefore depend upon the precise composition of the household.

Mr. Hannam

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the proposed upper income thresholds for a grant for eligible works contained in the consultation paper "Renovation Grants: Proposed Test of Resources, amounting to(a) £5,000, (b) £10,000, (c) £15,000 and (d) £20,000 in each of the following cases (a) a single disabled person with a severe disability premium, (b) a single disabled person with a severe disability premium, (c) a married couple, one of whom is in receipt of the disability premium and (d) a married couple with two children one of whom is in receipt of the disability premium.

Mr. Trippier

The upper income threshold for renovation grant eligibility depends upon the cost of eligible works and the composition of the applicant's household. Net income would be assessed according to rules broadly the same as those applicable to housing and community charge benefit and be subject to similar disregards. Using the rules currently in force for housing benefit, the upper income threshold for renovation grant eligibility in each of the cases cited would be as follows:

case Upper net income threshold for renovation grant eligibility—£pw (£pa) by cost of eligible works
£ £ £ £
Works costing £ 5,000 £ 10,000 £ 15,000 £ 20,000
(a) Single, disabled 170.48 (8,865) 257.35 (13,382) 344.23 (17,900) 431.10 (22,417)
(b) Single, severely disabled 196.68 (10,227) 283.55 (14.745) 370.43 (19,262) 457.30 (23,780)
(c) Married couple, one disabled 19618 (10,201) 283.05 (14,719) 369.93 (19,236) 456.80 (23,754)
(d) Married couple, two children, one disabled 219.38 (11,408) 306.25 (15,925) 393.13 (20,443) 480.00 (24,960)

These figures assume that the applicant is earning, and take into account the appropriate earnings disregards (£15 per week in cases (a) to (c), £10 per week in case (d). In each case it is assumed that the claimant is between 25 and 59 years old, any children are aged 11 to 15, and that capital after any appropriate disregard is £5,000 or less.