§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will detail the benefits which would be available to(a) a single unemployed parent with two school-age children, (b) a married unemployed couple 345W with two school-age children, (c) a single working parent with two school-age children and (d) a married couple with one parent working with two school-age children on (i) half average earning, (ii) national average earnings and (iii) twice average earnings.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe information requested is shown in the tables.
Married couple 2 children aged 13 and 16 Multiples of Average Earnings1 (£pw) Not Working ½ 1 2 Income support 84.95 0.00 0.00 0.00 Gross earnings 0.00 137.55 275.10 550.20 Family credit n/a 20.83 0.00 0.00 Rent rebate3 21.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 Rate rebate3 7.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 Child benefit 14.50 14.50 14.50 14.50 Total net income 97.65 119.35 189.31 380.94
Lone Parent 2 children aged 13 and 16 Multiples of Average Earnings2 (£pw) Not Working ½ 1 2 Income support 63.75 0.00 0.00 0.00 Gross earnings 0.00 91.90 183.80 367.60 Family credit n/a 41.92 0.00 0.00 Rent rebate3 21.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 Rate rebate3 7.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 Child benefit 19.70 19.70 19.70 19.70 Total net income 81.65 115.52 134.25 259.39 Unemployed families receiving income support are also eligible for free school meals and exemption from NHS charges. Working families receiving family credit are eligible for exemption from NHS charges. 1 Average male earnings 1989–90 assumed to be £275.10 a week. 2 Average female earnings 1989–90 assumed to be £183.80 a week. 3 Each family is assumed to live in local authority accommodation appropriate to its size and paying estimated average rent and rates. Notes:
Family credit for both family types runs out at gross earnings of £182 pw.
Family credit eligibility is conditional upon one adult in the family working 24 or more hours a week.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the current level of child benefit was fixed; and by how much inflation has since increased.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe current level of child benefit is £7.25 per week and came into effect on 6 April 1987. The movement in the index of retail prices between April 1987 and September 1989 was 14.6 per cent.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when was the present level of single-parent child benefit increased last and by how much inflation has since risen.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardOne-parent benefit was last increase in April 1989. Between April and September the index of retail prices rose by 2.1 per cent.