HC Deb 29 February 1984 vol 55 cc240-7W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will compare retirement and other state pensions and all other welfare and national insurance benefits and allowances paid in 1979 with those paid at the end of 1983, showing each of the 1983 payments as a percentage of the 1979 payments.

Dr. Boyson

The rates of benefit throughout 1979 up to November were mainly those introduced in the November 1978 uprating. The following table therefore compares the November 1983 rates with the November 1978 rates, except where stated.

Weekly rate from November 1978 Weekly rate from November 1983 November 1983 rates as a percentage of November 1978 rates
(£ per week) (£ per week) (£ per week)
Invalidity Allowance: Higher rate 4.15 7.15 172.3
Middle rate 2.60 4.60 176.9
Lower rate 1.30 2.30 176.9
Age addition (over 80) 0.25 0.25 100.0
Widows benefits:
Widows allowance 27.30 47.65 174.5
Widowed Mother's Allowance, Widows Pension 19.50 34.05 174.6
Child dependant *5.35 7.60 142.1
Earnings related addition ‡16.25
Unemployment benefit:
Standard personal 15.75 27.05 171.7
Adult dependant 9.75 16.70 171.3
Child dependant *0.85 0.15 17.6
Earnings related supplement ‡16.25
Sickness benefit:
Standard personal 15.75 25.95 164.8
Adult dependant 9.75 16.00 164.1
Child dependant *0.85 0.15 17.6
Earnings related supplement ‡16.25
Invalidity benefit:
Invalidity pension 19.50 32.60 167.2
Adult dependant 11.70 19.55 167.1
Child dependant *5.35 7.60 142.1
Invalidity Allowance: Higher rate 4.15 7.15 172.3
Middle rate 2.60 4.60 176.9
Lower rate 1.30 2.30 176.9
Industrial disablement benefit:
Disablement pension:
Aged over 18 or with dependant (100 per cent.) 31.90 55.60 174.3
Aged under 18 without dependant (100 per cent.) 19.50 34.05 174.6
Special hardship allowance (maximum) 12.76 22.24 174.3
Industrial injury benefit †18.50 25.95 140.3
Constant attendance allowance: (Normal maximum) 12.70 22.30 175.6
(Exceptional maximum) 25.40 44.60 175.6
Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 12.70 22.30 175.6
Unemployability supplement 19.50 32.60 167.2
Rate of gratuity Rate of gratutity Rate of gratuity
(£) (£) (£)
Disablement gratuity (maximum) 21.20 3,690.00 174.1
Industrial death benefit
Widow's pension: Initial rate 27.30 47.65 174.5
Higher permanent rate 20.05 34.60 172.6
Lower permanent rate 5.85 10.22 174.7
Widower's pension 20.05 34.60 172.6
Provision for children: Higher rate *5.35 7.60 142.1
Lower rate *0.85 0.15 17.6
Payments under Industrial Injuries and Diseases (Old Cases) Act 1975: ║
Maximum rate of lesser incapacity allowance 11.70 20.45 174.8
Allowance payable where disablement not total 11.70 20.45 174.8
Maternity allowance:
Standard personal 15.75 25.95 164.8
Adult dependant 9.75 16.00 164.1
Child dependant *0.85 0.15 17.6
Guardian's Allowance *5.35 7.60 142.1
Child's Special Allowance *5.35 7.60 142.1
Non-contributory retirement pensions: Categories (C and D)
Higher rate 11.70 20.45 174.8
Lower rate, adult dependant 7.05 12.25 173.8
Age addition (over 80) 0.25 0.25 100.0

Weekly rate from November 1978 Weekly rate from November 1983 November 1983 rates as a percentage of November 1978 rates
(£ per week) (£ per week) (£ per week)
Attendance Allowance:
Higher rate 15.60 27.20 174.4
Lower rate 10.40 18.15 174.5
Invalid Care Allowance:
Personal rate 11.20 20.45 174.8
Adult dependant 7.05 12.25 173.8
Child dependant *5.35 7.60 142.1
Non-contributory Invalidity Pension:
Personal rate 11.70 20.45 174.8
Adult dependant 7.05 12.25 173.8
Child dependant *5.35 7.60 142.1
Mobility allowance 10.00 19.00 190.0
Supplementary Benefits
Ordinary rate: Couple 25.25 43.50 172.3
Single Householder 15.55 26.80 172.3
Non-householder age 18 and over 12.45 21.45 172.3
age 16–17 9.55 16.50 172.8
Long-term rate: Couple 31.55 54.55 172.9
Single householder 19.90 34.10 171.4
Non-householder age 18 and over 15.95 27.25 170.8
age 16–17 ob/ 9.55 20.90 218.8
¶Other person aged: 13–15 7.95 13.70 172.3
11–12 6.55 13.70 209.2
5–10 5.30 9.15 172.6
under 5 4.40 9.15 208.0
Boarders' Personal Expenses
Ordinary rate: Couple 8.25 17.70 214.5
Single person 5.05 8.85 175.2
Long-term rate: Couple 10.00 19.70 197.0
Single person 5.85 9.85 168.4
¶Dependant children aged: 18–19 years 5.5 8.85 175.2
16–17 years 3.10 5.30 171.0
13–15 years 2.65 4.55 171.7
11–12 years 2.20 4.55 206.8
5–10 years 1.75 2.95 168.6
under 5 years 1.35 2.95 218.5
Non-householder housing addition 1.45 3.10 213.8
Heating additions: Lower rate 0.85 2.05 241.2
Higher rate (Middle rate)• 1.70 5.05 297.1
(Higher rate)• 2.55 5.05 198.0
Dietary additions: Lower rate 0.95 1.45 152.6
Higher rate 2.25 3.35 148.9
Haemodialysis rate 6.40 9.60 150.0
Blindness addition 1.25 1.25 100
Addition for claimant or dependant over age 80 0.25 0.25 100
War Pensions
Disablement Benefits:
Disablement pension for Private at 100 per cent, rate 31.90 55.60 174.3
Age allowance with assessments of:
40 to 50 per cent. 2.20 3.85 175
over 50 and not exceeding 70 per cent. 3.40 6.05 177.9
over 70 and not exceeding 90 per cent. 4.80 8.65 180.2
over 90 per cent. 6.80 12.10 177.9
Unemployability allowances:
Personal allowance 20.75 36.15 174.2
Increase for wife or other adult dependant 11.70 20.45 174.8
Increase for child *5.35 7.60 142.1
Invalidity allowances:
Higher rate 4.15 7.15 172.3
Middle rate 2.60 4.60 176.9
Lower rate 1.30 2.30 176.9
Constant attendance allowance:
Special maximum 25.40 44.60 175.6
Special intermediate 19.05 33.45 175.6
Normal maximum 12.70 22.30 175.6

Weekly rate from November 1978 Weekly rate from November 1983 November 1983 rates as a percentage of November 1978 rates
(£ per week) (£ per week) (£ per week)
Half and quarter day 6.35 11.15 175.6
Comforts allowance:
Higher rate 5.40 9.60 177.8
Lower rate 2.70 4.80 177.8
Allowance for lowered standard of occupation (maximum) 12.76 22.24 174.3
Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 12.70 22.30 175.6
Severe disablement occupational allowance 6.35 11.15 175.6
Annual rate from November 1978 Annual rate from November 1983
Clothing allowance
Higher rate (yearly) 43.00 75.00 174.4
Lower rate (yearly) 27.00 48.00 177.8
Weekly rate from November 1982 Weekly rate from November 1982
(£) (£)
Death benefits:
Widow's pension—private's widow:
Standard rate 25.30 44.25 174.9
Childless widow under 40 5.85 10.22 174.7
Widows children *8.00 10.95 136.9
Rent allowance (maximum) 9.60 16.85 175.5
Motherless and fatherless children *8.95 11.90 133.0
Age allowance for elderly widows: Ages 65-69 2.40 4.30 179.2
Age 70 and over 4.80 8.60 179.2
Adult orphans 19.50 34.05 174.6
Widower's pension (maximum) 25.30 44.25 174.9
Family Income Supplement
Prescribed amount for family with one child (income below which FIS is payable) 46.00 85.50 185.9
Increase in prescribed amount for each additional child 4.00 9.50 237.5
Maximum weekly amount for a one-child family 10.50 22.00 209.5
Increase in maximum amount for each additional child 1.00 2.00 200
Child Benefit
Child Benefit:
Each child *4.00 6.50 162.5
One parent benefit:
First or only child of certain lone persons 2.00 4.05 202.5

Rate of grant from November 1978 Rate of grant from November 1983 November 1983 rates as a percentage of November 1978 rates
(£ per week) (£ per week) (£ per week)
Maternity Grant 25.00 25.00 100
Death Grant:
Aged under 3 years 9.00 9.00 100
Aged 3 to 5 years 15.00 15.00 100
Aged 6 to 17 years 22.50 22.50 100
Aged 18 and over 30.00 30.00 100
Men born between 5 July 1883
Women born between 5 July 1888 and 4 July 1898 15.00 15.00 100
Christmas Bonus 10.00 10.00 100
Housing Benefit needs allowances
Single person 27.25 43.05 158.0
Couple/single parent 39.45 63.50 161.0
Single handicapped person 30.15 48.00 159.2
Couple (one handicapped) single handicapped parent 42.35 68.45 161.6
Couple both (handicapped) 44.00 70.80 160.9
Pensioner addition 0.75
Dependent child addition 6.55 11.90 181.7

Rate of grant from November 1978 Rate of grant from November 1983 November 1983 rates as a percentage of November 1978 rates
Statutory Sick Pay
Lower rate 27.20
Middle rate 33.25
Higher rate 40.25
* Rate from April 1979.
† Injury benefit abolished; sickness benefit now paid.
‡ Maximum at January 1979; now abolished.
║Separate long term rate first introduced in November 1980.
¶ From November 1980 age bands were merged into one for choldren under 11 and one for children 11–15.
• Combined from November 1980.