§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is for the latest available convenient time the average period for which eligible unemployed persons have received earnings-related supplement in relation to the total claim period of 26 weeks; what percentage of those persons eligible to receive earnings-related supplement during that period actually claimed it; and what percentage of the total registered unemployed at that time were, in fact, beneficiaries of earnings-related supplement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that the information requested by my hon. Friend on the average period of receipt of earnings-related supplement with unemployment benefit is not available. The supplement is payable for 26 weeks after the first two weeks of any period of interruption of employment, including linking spells of previous unemployment or incapacity. Any unemployment benefit claimant who is entitled to the supplement receives it until he has completed his 26 weeks' entitlement, unless he ceases to claim benefit first. No separate claim for the supplement is required; entitlement is normally considered automatically when the initial claim for flat-rate benefit is made. In November 1980, 23.5 per cent. of people claiming unemployment benefit or credits were receiving the supplement.