§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement detailing the circumstances in which pensioners will not receive the full allowances to help with the cost of value added tax on fuel.
§ Mr. HagueTaking a "pensioner" as a person receiving a state benefit who is aged 65 or over in the case of men136W and 60 or over in the case of women and "full allowances to help with the cost of VAT on fuel" as the additional 50p per week for single people and 70p per week for couples payable from April, the circumstances will be as follows.
Where Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit is not in payment1 and:
- (a) basic retirement pension, invalidity benefit or widows' benefit is in payment at less than the standard rate, the additional amount will be a proportion of 50p or 20p, as appropriate, corresponding to the level of award in accordance with the contributory principle underlying these benefits,
- (b) only non-contributory retirement pension or invalid care allowance is in payment the additional amount will be 20p per week,
- (c) only graduated retirement benefit is in payment, or an award of retirement pension, invalidity benefit or widows' benefit consists solely of additional pension, the rate of benefit will not be increased beyond normal price indexation.
Note 1—Pensioners receiving income support, including men aged 60 to 64, will be entitled to 50p per week, 70p for couples. These increases will feed through into housing benefit and council tax benefit.