HC Deb 22 July 1991 vol 195 cc431-2W
18. Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current average award for family credit.

Mr. Jack

The average of the awards current at the end of June was well over £31.

21. Mr. Page

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security over what range of net income are families eligible for family credit.

Mr. Jack

The level of income at which eligibility for family credit runs out depends on the number of children in the family and their ages, but even the smallest family, with one child under 11, could get family credit if their net income is less than £130 a week—about £155 gross. For families with more, or older, children, the levels are much higher; for example, a family with four children, aged three, eight, eleven and 16 could be eligible with net income of £195, about £254 gross. Child benefit order books, and the notifications sent where payment is made directly into an account, contain a personalised message about family credit setting out the level for that particular family.

There is no minimum qualifying level of income for family credit, although the parent, or at least one of them in a two-parent family, has to be working for 24 hours a week or more.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the annualised value of the average family credit award expressed as an increase in gross annual earnings.

Mr. Jack

The average amount of the family credit awards current at the end of June 1991 was £31.41. For a person paying national insurance contributions and tax at the standard rate this would equate to an increase in gross earnings of nearly £2,475 a year.