§ Mrs. Haymanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many one-parent families are in receipt of supplementary benefits; and what proportion of supplementary benefit claimants this figure represents.
§ Mr. O'MalleyIn November 1974, the latest date for which figures are available, 269,000 heads of one-parent families were in receipt of supplementary benefit. They constituted about 10 per cent. of the total number of supplementary benefit claimants.
§ Mrs. Haymanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many one-parent families will benefit in real terms from the new family allowance to be introduced in April 1976.
§ Mr. O'MalleyOn the latest estimates, something over a quarter of a million one-parent families stand to gain financially from child interim benefit to be introduced next April.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the maximum social security benefit for a single parent with one child, exclusive of rent and rates, and assuming no other resources; and what would be the maximum permitted income inclusive of family income supplement for such a person assuming earned income of £15 per week.
§ Mr. O'MalleyFor supplementary benefit purposes the requirements of a single parent who is a householder with one child under 5 would amount to £12.35 weekly—£14 from 17th November—if he or she had received benefit for 663W less than two years. For a claimant who had received benefit continuously for two years, the scale would be £14.75—£16.80 from 17th November. As well as an addition for rent and rates, which would usually be met in full, the claimant might also be entitled to additions—with no maximum level laid down—to meet any special expenses.
Assuming an earned income of £15 a week such a person would be entitled to FIS at the maximum rate of £7 a week, making in all an income of £22 a week. In many cases rent and rate rebates or allowances might be due.