§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the current capital limits to the entitlement to benefits and other assistance together with the year of introduction; what was the value of each in real terms at the time of the introduction; and if he will make a statement. [16611]
§ Mr. Roger Evans[pursuant to his reply 30 March, Official Report, column 779]: The information regarding the Social Fund capital limit for funeral and maternity payments, up to age 60, was incorrect. The correct information is as follows:
The five income-related benefits—council tax benefit, disability working allowance, family credit, housing benefit and income support—all have a lower capital limit, above which deductions are made from benefit, and an upper capital limit, above which no benefit can be paid. The lower capital limit in all those benefits is also the level above which no personal allowance can be paid for a dependent child if he possesses that amount of capital or more.
Additionally, in qualifying for a social fund maternity or funeral payment, community care grant or budgeting 499W loan, if capital is held above a certain limit, deductions are made from any payments awarded.
The limits and the dates when they were introduced or last increased are set out in the table.
Date fixed Value now if uprated in line with prices1 £ Council Tax Benefit Lower capital limit £3,000 April 1993 3,108 Upper capital limit £16,000 April 1983 16,576 Disability Working Allowance Lower capital limit £3,000 April 1992 3,216 Upper capital limit £16,000 April 1992 3,216 Family Credit Lower capital limit £3,000 April 1988 4,105 Upper capital limit £8,000 April 1990 9,940 Housing Benefit Lower capital limit £3,000 April 1988 4,105 Upper capital limit £16,000 April 1990 9,940 Income Support Lower capital limit £3,000 April 1988 4,105 Upper capital limit £8,000 April 1990 9,940 Social Fund Capital limit for funeral £500 or maternity payments (up to age 60) April 1987 697 Capital limit for funeral £1,000 or maternity payments (60 or over) April 1990 1,242 Community Care Grants £500 (up to age 60) April 1988 684 Community Care Grant £1,000 (60 and over) April 1988 1,242 Budget Loan £500 (up to age 60) April 1988 684 Budgeting Loan £1,000 (60 and over) April 1988 1,242 1 Uprated in line with ROSSI—retail prices index excluding housing costs.