§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of Income Support available to(a) children aged under 16 years and (b) asylum seeking children in the UK aged under 16 years. [3876]
§ Malcolm WicksI have been asked to reply.
From 3 April 2000 the Home Office is responsible for supporting and accommodating asylum seekers awaiting a determination of their case. Those asylum seekers in receipt of benefits prior to 3 April 2000 continue to be eligible to claim Income Support. Payment for any dependent children is at normal rates. Asylum seekers whose applications are accepted and who are awarded either refugee status or exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom are eligible for social security benefits in the usual way.
The levels of Income Support personal allowances for younger people take account of the fact that the majority of this group live in someone else's household and can reasonably be assumed to have fewer financial 288W responsibilities than people who are older and who are more likely to live independently. However, those 16 and 17-year-olds who are forced to claim independently can receive Income Support at higher rates.
There is no provision for payment of Income Support to children aged under 16 in their own right. A dependant's allowance may be payable to people claiming benefit who have a dependent child or children living with them as part of their family.