§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the entitlement to any national insurance benefit will be affected for those long-term unemployed over 60 years of age who opt for the new scheme of supplementary benefit proposed in the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Conditions of Entitlement) Amendment Regulations 1981.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe long-term rate of supplementary benefit will be available to an unemployed person over 60 who has been receiving supplementary benefit for a year or more and is not registered for work with the Manpower Services Commission. It is not intended that the change should have any effect on that person's entitlement to national insurance benefits, either under or over pension age. For most such people the benefit at issue is retirement pension, and credits will continue to be available for this purpose.