HC Deb 25 March 1994 vol 240 c450W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of sickness benefit now receive increases of benefit for adult dependants under the age of 60 years where there are no children in the household; how many people on sickness benefit in April 1995 he estimates will fail to receive an increase for an adult dependant after that time; and what are the estimated savings to his Department of abolishing increases for adult dependants to people on short-term incapacity benefit.

Mr. Scott

The information is as follows:

  1. (i) it is estimated that around 10,000 adult dependency increases (ADIs) of sickness benefit (SB) are paid to people with a spouse under 60 with no dependent children1;
  2. (ii) no one receiving an SB ADI at the point of change in April 1995 who continues to meet the existing entitlement conditions for payment of SB ADIs will have that increase withdrawn unless or until they become entitled to long-term incapacity benefit (IB) after 52 weeks incapacity;
  3. (iii) the proposals for payment of ADIs of short-term IB are expected to yield savings of around £10 million in 1995–96 and £15 million in 1996–972

Notes:

1 Estimate derived from 1 per cent. of SB recipients combined with information from the 1989, 1990 and 1991 Family Expenditure Surveys.

2 Estimates are expressed in constant 1993–94 prices and are net of offsetting expenditure on income-related benefits. They are rounded to the nearest £5 million and take account of all other changes proposed in the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Bill.