§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the cost of extending the right to long-term supplementary benefit rate to the long-term unemployed at 1981–82 benefit rates.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI have no later figures than those given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security to the hon. Member on 12 June 1981. [Vol. 6, c.224.]
However, I have today laid draft regulations before Parliament to extend, with effect from 23 November 1981, entitlement to the long-term rate of supplementary benefit to unemployed people aged 60 and over who have been on supplementary benefit for a year or more, and decide not to register for work. The proposals permit those who wish to register for work to do so, but they will continue to be paid at the ordinary rate. Claimants will be able to count periods in receipt of supplementary benefit since their 59th birthday towards entitlement to the long-term rate, subject to the normal linking provisions. The proposed changes will benefit married claimants by up to £9.60 per week and single people by up to £6.35. We estimate that the cost of the change will be £6 million between November 1981 and March 1982 and £21 million in the year 1982–83.