§ Mr. Iain Millsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards divorced or separated mothers who claim supplementary benefit and whose share of the proceeds of the matrimonial home exceeds £2,000; and in what circumstances this sum debars them from receiving supplementary benefit.
§ Mrs. ChalkerPersons receiving more than £2,000 as their share of the proceeds of the matrimonial home would be debarred from receiving supplementary benefit, unless regulation 6(i)(b) of the Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Regulations 1980 applied. That regulation provides for disregard of the value of any sum attributable to the proceeds of sale of a home which is to be used for the purchase of another home within six months of the date of sale or such longer period as is reasonable in the circumstances.
Questions on entitlement to supplementary benefit are for the independent adjudicating authorities, initially the benefit officer, but if my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, perhaps he will let me have details.