§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether illness reducing the working week to below 24 hours is a reason for rejection of applications for family credit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JackOne of the statutory conditions for a successful claim to family credit is that either the claimant or partner (if any) must carry out activities in the course of their work for at least 24 hours in either the week of the claim or either of the two weeks immediately preceding that week. If, because of sickness, the person does not, in the opinion of the adjudication officer, satisfy this condition, the claim would be disallowed. People who are sick can claim income support.