HC Deb 16 December 1981 vol 15 cc158-9W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all those benefits for which he is responsible, and indicate in each case by how much they would need to be increased to maintain their April 1979 value.

Mrs. Chalker

Most benefits have more than retained their real value. The following table compares the present rates of social security benefits and war pensions for a single person with the levels at April 1979. The revaluation assumes a 12 per cent. increase in prices over the 12 months ended November 1981.

Benefit November 1981 rate April 1979 rate at assumed November 1981 prices
£ £
Attendance allowance
—Higher rate 23.65 22.36
—Lower rate 15.75 14.91
Child benefit (per child) 5.25 5.73
Child's special allowance 7.70 9.10
Death grant 30.00 43.00
Family income supplement (prescribed for one child family) 74.00 65.93
Guardian's allowance 7.70 9.10
Industrial injury benefit 25.5 26.51
Industrial death benefit
Widows
—First 26 weeks 41.40 39.13
—Higher permanent rate 30.15 28.74
—Lower permanent rate 8.88 8.38
Widowers 30.15 28.74
Industrial disablement benefit (100 per cent, assessment) 48.30 45.72
Invalid care allowance 17.75 16.77
Invalidity pension 28.35 27.95
Maternity allowance 22.50 22.57
Maternity grant 25.00 35.83
Mobility allowance 16.50 14.33
Non-contributory Invalidity pension 17.75 16.77
Non-contributory retirement pension
One-parent benefit 3.30 2.87
Retirement pension 29.60 27.95
Sickness benefit 22.50 22.57
Supplementary allowance Ordinary weekly scale rate single householder 23.25 22.29
Long-term weekly scale rate single householder 29.60 28.52
Supplementary pension—single householder 29.60 28.52
Unemployment benefit 22.50 22.57
War disablement pension (100 per cent, for private) 48.30 45.72
War Widow's pension —standard rate for private's widow 38.45 36.26
Widow's allowance 41.40 39.13
Widowed mother's allowance 29.60 27.95
Widow's pension

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