Supplementary Benefit Rates (Hansard, 17 June 1968)

§ Mrs. Hart

I am tomorrow laying before Parliament draft Regulations pro-

PROPOSED SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT RATES
				Present weekly rate	Proposed weekly rate
				(£	s.	d.)	£	s.	d.
Ordinary scale
(a) husband and wife	…	…	…	(7	1	0)	7	9	0
(b) person living alone	…	…	…	(4	6	0)	4	11	0
(c) any other person aged—
(i) not less than 21 years	…	…	…	(3	11	0)	3	14	0
(ii) less than 21 but not less than 18 years	…	…	…	(2	18	0)	3	1	0
(iii) less than 18 but not less than 16 years	…	…	…	(2	10	0)	2	13	0
(iv) less than 16 but not Jess than 13 years	…	…	…	(1	17	0)	2	1	0
(v) less than 13 but not less than 11 years	…	…	…	(1	17	0)	1	19	0
(vi) less than 11 but not less than 5 years	…	…	…	(1	10	0)	1	12	0
(vii) less than 5 years	…	…	…	(1	5	0)	1	7	0
Blind scale
(a) husband and wife—
(i) if one of them blind	…	…	…	(8	5	6)	8	13	6
(ii) if both of them blind	…	…	…	(9	1	6)	9	9	6
(b) any other blind person aged—
(i) not less than 21 years	…	…	…	(5	10	6)	5	15	6
(ii) less than 21 but not less than 18 years	…	…	…	(3	18	0)	4	1	0
(iii) less than 18 but not less than 16 years	…	…	…	(3	6	0)	3	9	0
(iv) less than 16 but not less than 13 years	…	…	…	(1	17	0)	2	1	0
(v) less than 13 but not less than 11 years	…	…	…	(1	17	0)	1	19	0
(vi) less than 11 but not less than 5 years	…	…	…	(1	10	0)	1	12	0
(vii) less than 5 years	…	…	…	(1	5	0)	1	7	0
Long-term addition	…	…	…	(	9	0)		10	0
Rent addition for non-householders	…	…	…	(	10	0)		11	0
NOTES:
(1) An allowance for rent is added to the above scale rates.
(2) The long-term addition is added to the requirements of persons over pensionable age and to those of persons under pensionable age (other than the unemployed) who have received supplementary benefit (or national assistance) for a period of two years.

98W

viding for supplementary benefit increases from 7th October. These increases are part of the Government's programme of protecting the most vulnerable classes of the community. The main increases proposed are 5s for a single householder and 8s. for a married couple. The long-term addition will be increased from 9s. to 10s.

Other rates will be increased by appropriate amounts with a proportionately higher increase for children aged 13–15.

The cost of these increases will be about £44 million for existing cases in a full year.

These supplementary benefit changes will coincide with the further increases in family allowances which have already been approved by this House. This means that in October all the poorest families will benefit from one or other of these increases.

I am circulating a list of the proposals in the OFFICIAL REPORT for the convenience of hon. Members.

Following is the table: