Widows' Benefits (Hansard, 27 November 1998)

§ Angela Eagle

Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as set out.

The increase in the numbers on each of the means tested benefits following introduction of Bereavement Allowance for women is less than 5,000 in each of the first two years. In the third year, the increase for Income Support/Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance is estimated to be 10,000, the increase for each of the other means-tested benefits is less than 5,000.

32W

The reduction in the numbers on each of the means-tested benefits following introduction of Bereavement Allowance for men is less than 5,000 in each of the first three years.

The reduction in the numbers on each of the means tested benefits following introduction of Widowed Parents' Allowance for men is less than 5,000 in each of the first three years.

The increase in the numbers on each of the means tested benefits following introduction of the £10 disregard of Widowed Parents' Allowance is less than 5,000 in each of the first three years.

Notes:

1. Means tested benefits include Income Support, Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Working Families Tax Credit.

2. Estimates are broad orders of magnitude. They are rounded to the nearest 10,000 but are not necessarily accurate to that degree.

3. Estimates assume that a constant proportion of those affected by the proposed changes to Bereavement Benefits move on or off each of the means-tested benefits.

4. Estimates use information from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey, the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and forecasts from the Government Actuary's Department concerning the number of men and women affected by the proposed changes.

5. Estimates across means-tested benefits cannot be summed to provide an estimate of the total number of people affected by the changes.