§ Mr. Lofthouseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the increase in the value in real terms of
Housing Benefit: Needs allowances 1 2 3 4 Needs allowance levels Percentage change column 2 over column 1 (1979–86) November 1979 £ July 1986 £ April 1987 £ Single person 31.05 48.10 48.90 54.9 Couple/lone parent 45.55 70.85 72.15 55.6 Couple, both handicapped 50.80 79.00 80.45 55.6 Dependent child addition 7.70 14.60 14.75 89.6 Single handicapped person 34.60 53.65 54.60 55.1
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were dependent on supplementary benefit in London, broken down into local authority boroughs, in 1979 and on the latest available date.
§ Mr. LyellInformation is not available in the precise form requested. Only details of the number of people dependent on supplementary benefit in the area previously covered by the Greater London council can be provided but these will take time to collate.
I shall let the hon. Member have a further reply as soon as this information is to hand.
732Whousing benefit needs allowance since 1979–80 to the current year, and that projected so as to include the changes to take effect in April 1987, in respect of (a) single persons (b) couples/lone parents, (c) couples, both handicapped, (d) the dependent child addition and (e) single handicapped persons; and how this compares with changes in the retail price index in each case.
§ Mr. LyellThe table shows such information as can readily be calculated: the first three columns show the needs allowance levels for the various categories requested at November 1979, July 1986 and April 1987. It is not possible to make a reliable projection of the real value of the needs allowance when uprated in 1987 since retail price index forecasts are not available in sufficient detail.
The needs allowances are not increased in line with the retail price index as they are only one component used in the calculation of housing benefit. The other main elements are the claimant's actual rent and rates, 60 per cent. of which are automatically reflected in the benefit calculation. For this reason the normal formula for uprating the needs allowances is linked not to the retail price index but to the level of the supplementary benefit long-term scale rate, plus 40 per cent. of average rents and rates, plus average water rates. In addition, wage earners benefit from an earnings disregard which we introduced in November 1979 and which has increased by nearly 350 per cent. since then. The retail price index increase over the relevant period is 61.8 per cent. and the percentage changes are set out in column 4 but, for the reasons stated, the comparison is inappropriate.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library a copy of the circular he has sent to local offices on the April 1987 uprating of benefits.
§ Mr. LyellA copy of circular S24/86, which was issued to local offices on 3 November, is already in the Library.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those offices of his Department which have yet to complete the July 1986 uprating of benefits.
§ Mr. LyellThe following offices have yet to complete the July 1986 uprating of supplementary benefit
Finsbury Park, Hackney, Stoke Newington, Hendon, Canterbury and Thanet.The uprating of other benefits has been completed in all offices.
733W
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his latest estimate of the cost of the housing benefit scheme; how many people received housing benefit in 1985; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what is the latest estimate of the cost of the housing benefit scheme currently met by (a) central Government and (b) local government; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he proposes to increase the proportion of the cost of the housing benefit scheme met by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current level of outstanding payment of housing benefit by the Department of Health and Social Security due to each housing authority in England and Wales.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of housing benefit claims are initially incorrectly assessed; and if he will make a statement.
Applications made Successful applications Period Attendance allowance Invalid care allowance Attendance allowance Invalid care allowance June 1983 to December 19841 590 59 190 52 January 1985 to December 1985 407 98 109 85 1Records were not kept prior to June 1983. This period cannot be further separated into calendar years.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria apply in determining whether to accept or reject applications made under Regulation 9(5) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations for the treatment of a claim for supplementary benefit as one also made for (a) attendance allowance and (b) invalid care allowance.
§ Mr. MajorThere must exist a claim for supplementary benefit made on or after 29 August 1977 on which there is a clear indication that the person was likely to satisfy the conditions for attendance allowance or invalid care allowance respectively. If the supplementary benefit claim is accepted by the Secretary of State as a claim also for attendance or invalid care allowance, the claim is then subject to adjudication in the normal way in accordance with the legislation applying to those benefits.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time, in weeks, currently taken to determine a request received under Regulation 9(5) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations from the date of receipt.