HC Deb 24 January 1978 vol 942 cc545-6W
Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether girl students living alone who do not receive full student grants and whose parents do not make up the amount are entitled to social security benefits to make up the amount; whether girls in the same position, except that they are cohabiting with a man receiving unemployment benefit or supplementary benefit, can receive extra social security benefits towards the gap in income left by parents not snaking a contribution, and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Orme

A girl student's entitlement to unemployment benefit is not affected by her grant. If she claims supplementary benefit, her grant, including any assessed parental contribution, whether received or not, is normally counted as her available income. If she is living with a man as his wife in a stable relationship, and he is drawing supplementary benefit, he can claim for her as his dependant; their resources, excluding any parental contribution due to her but not received, will be made up to their joint requirements. If the man is claiming unemployment benefit, he can receive an increase for her as his dependant if he is entitled to unemployment benefit for a child for whom she is caring.