HC Deb 05 May 1998 vol 311 cc375-6W
Mr. Rowlands

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the income limits for invalid care allowances were last revised; and what these limits would be if they had been revised in line with the rise in(a) earnings and (b) prices. [39444]

Mr. Denham

The current earnings limit of £50.00 for Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) was introduced on 12 April 1993. If this was revised it would be £59.85 if it had been uprated in line with the rise in earnings and £57.20 if uprated in line with the rise in prices.

The original earnings limit of £6.00 for ICA was introduced on 12 April 1976. This limit would be £37.25 if uprated by earnings and £26.40 if uprated by prices.

Notes:

  1. 1. The Retail Prices Index (All Items) and the Average Earnings Index (Whole Economy) as produced by the Office for National Statistics was used in these calculations.
  2. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 pence at each uprating.
  3. 3. The rules on expenses which can be deducted from earnings changed in November 1996.