Supplementary Benefit (Hansard, 16 March 1983)

§ Mr. John
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the income disregards, capital limits and other specific sums mentioned in the supplementary benefits regulations, the dates at which these sums were fixed at their present level, and the amounts to which they would have to be raised in November 1983 to make good their loss of value since they were fixed at their present level, assuming 5 per cent. inflation in the year to November 1983.

§ Mr. Newton
The information requested in respect of resources which are partially disregarded under the supplementary benefit resources and single payments regulations is as follows:

Resource Present level of disregard Date fixed at present level Level of disregard needed at November 1983^*

£ £

Capital:

for weekly benefit 2,500 November 1982 2,625

for single payments 300 November 1978 507.26

for single payments

for voluntary

repatriation 50 November 1975 118.72

Earnings:

unemployed claimants 4 November 1980 5.00

single parents 4 plus ½ earnings from 4 to 20 November 1980 24.98

others 4 November 1975 9.50

Miscellaneous income:

(war and industrial pensions, charitable payments etc.) 4 November 1975 9.50

Occasional gifts 100 November 1982 105

Educational maintenance allowances:

children at school 7.50 September 1979 11.01

young people at college 9.50 September 1979 13.95

Student grants † 2 September 1976 4.26

197W

^* on the basis of the assumptions in the question to give same real value as at date fixed (measured by retail prices index to November 1982 and by assumed 5 per cent, increase in retail prices November 1982 to November 1983).

† where student is a single parent or is disabled or is the partner of the claimant and has a dependent child.

The upper limit on the amount of a single payment payable for repairs to a claimant's home was set at £225 in November 1978. It would need to be raised to £380.45 on the assumptions in the question.

§ Mr. Field
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the numbers of people who would no longer claim supplementary benefit if (a) the earnings related supplement scheme were restored at the level immediately prior to its abolition and (b) the present abatement of national insurance benefits were restored.

§ Mr. Newton
For the effect of the abatement of national insurance benefits alone I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) on 9 February 1983.—[Vol. 36, c.402–3] No information is available on the effect of the abolition of earnings-related supplement—ERS—but, so far as unemployment benefit—UB—is concerned, the first retailed statistics which show the extent of dependency on supplementary allowance following the abolition of ERS will be available soon. This should enable a broad assessment to be made of the extent to which the abatement and abolition of ERS have increased the number of UB recipients claiming supplementary benefit. I will write to the hon. Member when this has been prepared.

Resource	Present level of disregard	Date fixed at present level	Level of disregard needed at November 1983^*
	£		£
Capital:
for weekly benefit	2,500	November 1982	2,625
for single payments	300	November 1978	507.26
for single payments
for voluntary
repatriation	50	November 1975	118.72
Earnings:
unemployed claimants	4	November 1980	5.00
single parents	4 plus ½ earnings from 4 to 20	November 1980	24.98
others	4	November 1975	9.50
Miscellaneous income:
(war and industrial pensions, charitable payments etc.)	4	November 1975	9.50
Occasional gifts	100	November 1982	105
Educational maintenance allowances:
children at school	7.50	September 1979	11.01
young people at college	9.50	September 1979	13.95
Student grants †	2	September 1976	4.26