§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list in theOfficial Report the criteria he uses for assessing (a) severe hardship when considering applications for entitlement to benefit from 16 and 17-year-olds and (b) whether individuals in these age groups are genuinely estranged from their parents.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe Secretary of State has the power to direct that, where unavoidable severe hardship would result if benefit were to be withheld, a young person will be entitled to income support even though that young person would ordinarily not be so entitled. Such decisions are made by officials authorised to act on his behalf. Each case is considered on its individual merits and in the light of its particular circumstances. There can therefore be no fixed criteria. Examples of factors which may be considered include: the young person's health and vulnerability, including the threat of homelessness; the availability of any income or savings; the prospects of a speedy entry into YTS; the availability of casual work; whether the person has any friends or relatives who can offer him or her accommodation or other assistance; and the financial commitments of the person and the prospect of postponing any payments.
A young person who is estranged from his or her parents, and who has of necessity to live away from home because of that estrangement, may be entitled to income suport during the child benefit extension period. Decisions in such cases are made by adjudication officers. Guidance to adjudication officers is given by the chief adjudication officer in the adjudication officers guide, a copy of which is in the Library.