§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend Direction 25 of the Social Fund to include 16 to 18-year-olds who are on a youth training placement. [66156]
§ Angela EagleIt is not appropriate to extend Direction 25 to include 16–18 year olds on youth training placements. Payments from the Discretionary Social Fund are made from a cash limited budget and available resources must be targeted on those most in need of help. Eligibility for Social Fund Community Care Grants is therefore restricted by Direction 25 to those entitled to Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance.
Provision already exists to allow vulnerable 16–17 year olds to receive Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and, in turn, access to Community Care Grants.