HC Deb 04 July 1995 vol 263 c192W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what help will be offered to a claimant denied the jobseeker's allowance for up to 26 weeks because that claimant had been dismissed from his job. [31664]

Mr. Roger Evans

Sanctioned claimants in vulnerable groups—those with children, those who are sick or pregnant or those who have a sick or pregnant partner, or who have caring responsibilities—may have access to hardship payments, at a reduced rate of jobseeker's allowance throughout the period of the sanction. Claimants who are not in vulnerable groups will receive no benefit for the first two weeks or a sanction; thereafter they may receive hardship payments if they can demonstrate that they or their partner would otherwise suffer hardship.

Mr. Rooney

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, on the introduction of jobseeker's allowance,(a) carers receiving invalid care allowance and (b) claimants in receipt of severe disablement allowance will continue to be able to study up to 21 hours per week on education and training courses without prejudice to benefit entitlement. [32333]

Mr. Evans

We are considering what changes, if any, need to be made to invalid care allowance and severe disablement allowance when jobseeker's allowance is introduced.