§ Ms. Abbottasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information the new family credit form requires claimants to give about their current savings and capital.
§ Mr. PortilloFor family income supplement, claimants are required only to declare the amount of any interest they receive from savings and capital; but for family credit it is necessary to know the value of the savings and capital. In preparation for the conversion of existing family income supplement recipients to family credit from next April the form asks them to declare whether they have any savings worth more than £2,000 and if any of their children have savings worth more than £2,000, and if so to give details. It also asks whether they own any property or land.
§ Ms. Abbottasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, in the light of the current savings and capital limit of £3,000 for supplementary benefit, he has decided to ask family income supplement claimants to declare savings below the present capital limit when completing the family credit claim form.
§ Mr. PortilloInformation about savings and capital is being sought on the same basis as on supplementary benefit claim forms. Claimants are asked to provide details where savings are above £2,000. This is appropriate since some assets have to be valued at more than the nominal amount (for example shares or National Savings Certificates).