§ 76. Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that increased benefits to cover rent and rate increases of supplementary benefit claimants are implemented within one month; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerSome 21/2 million benefit payments have to be reassessed when local authority rents and rates change. This task could not be completed within the time mentioned and within current manpower limits unless the Department's offices received a substantially longer period of notice of the changes than they receive at present. The Government's proposals for housing benefit currently before Parliament will, however, remove these problems.
§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances supplementary benefit 344W or child allowance is available for children overseas; in each case how much is available per child, how much in total has been paid in this way for each of the last five years; and how much has been paid on account of children in each of the six countries in respect of children in which the largest total payments have been made.
§ Mrs. Chalker, [pursuant to her reply, 27 January 1982, c. 372–3]: Supplementary benefit cannot be claimed for dependent children living abroad except during temporary absences of up to four weeks, in which case the appropriate dependant's addition remains payable.
Child benefit is payable for a child overseas only if the child is abroad for an absence which is intended to be temporary. It may then continue in payment for up to 26 weeks. If the absence is by reason of the child receiving full time education, benefit may continue for up to 156 weeks. Where the absence is for the purpose of being treated for illness, benefit can be paid for an extended period at the discretion of the Secretary of State. In all cases, payment is at the normal child benefit rate.
I regret that the other information requested is not available.