HC Deb 22 January 1986 vol 90 c231W
Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under the proposals for the social fund, what will be the basis for deciding whether a payment should be a grant or a loan.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, under the proposals for the social fund, how a decision will be made as to whether a payment is made by a loan or a grant.

Mr. Newton

In reaching their decisions, social fund officers will follow guidance and directions issued by the Secretary of State. These will be published in due course. The main circumstances in which grants and loans will be made are set out in the White Paper "Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 9691).

Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what transitional arrangements are proposed under the Government's White Paper, "Reform of Social Security", for the phasing out of additional payments and the phasing in of the disability premium.

Mr. Newton

As paragraph 1.45 of the White Paper makes clear, transitional protection will ensure that, at the point of introduction, income support will make up claimants weekly cash income to at least the same level as supplementary benefit did before the change. It will take the form of an addition to benefit which will remain in payment until the amount of income support is equal to or exceeds the amount of supplementary benefit, including additional requirements, to which a claimant was entitled at the point of change.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, under the Government's proposals in "The Reform of Social Security", if the surrender value of life insurance policies and savings from mobility allowance will be disregarded for the purposes of assessing capital limits.

Mr. Newton

Decisions have not yet been taken on the specific points raised by the right hon. Member which, along with other detailed matters in the current regulations, will be considered in the light of the proposals for income support, including the proposed easement of the general capital rule by comparison with that applying to the current supplementary benefit scheme.