§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether YTS trainees who lose their entitlement to training allowance after three weeks sickness are entitled to sickness benefit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydYoung people who have not worked prior to starting on the YTS scheme will not qualify for sickness benefit when they fall sick, as they will not satisfy the contribution conditions for that benefit. YTS trainees with a previous record of employment may qualify, but only if they have paid sufficient contributions at the relevant time. In appropriate cases, child benefit or income support may be payable.
§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidelines he has issued to benefit officers to ensure that unemployed income support claimants who receive training allowance on beginning employment training continue to receive housing benefit.
§ Mr. Peter LloydUnemployed income support claimants who undertake employment training have their training allowance set at a level which ensures continuing payment of income support.
DSS local offices have been instructed to ensure that the local authority is aware of the continuance of income support during employment training. Existing entitlement to housing benefit should not, therefore, be affected.