§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the earnings disregards which currently apply to unemployed people in receipt of income support, formerly supplementary benefit; when and by how much they have been increased since 1979; and what they would be worth today if(a) they had been annually increased since 1979 in line with inflation, and (b) they had been annually increased since 1979 in line with average earnings; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe information requested is in the tables.
- Weekly earnings disregards applying to unemployed people receiving Income Support:
- Couples aged under 60 years who have been continuously in receipt of Income Support for 2 years or more £15.
- Single people and couples receiving (or with underlying title to) the disability premium, and lone parents £15.
- All other single people and couples £5 each person.
Levels of earnings disregarded under the Supplementary Benefit scheme since 1979:
1979 November 1980 £ £ People required to register for employment 2 4 People not required to register for employment 4 4 Lone Parents 6 112 1 Maximum—£4 plus half the amount of any earnings between £4 and £20. November 1979 earnings disregards revalued in line with (a) the RPI and (b) the average earnings index (whole economy):
April 1990 November 1979 (a) RPI (b) Average earnings £ £ £ 2 4.15 5.10 4 8.31 10.21 6 12.46 15.31