§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer of 2nd April, which included a letter from Miss Ann Chant (WA 30), whether they will amend the income support rules, so that, in cases where the parent with care has been assessed to receive maintenance above the level of income support under the Child Support Act 1991 and the maintenance fails to arrive, the entitlement to income support can be reactivated without "costly extra administrative work" of making a new claim.
§ Lord Mackay of ArdbrecknishWe have no plans to make such amendments. Income support is an income related benefit. When a person's income increases to a 151WA level which extinguishes entitlement to income support, payment ceases. If that person's income subsequently drops to a level where income support may again be payable, a further claim will be necessary to take account of any changed circumstances in the meantime. There is no reason for these arrangements to be altered because the person's income derives from child support maintenance rather than from another source.