§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give his most recent estimate of DSS benefits unclaimed for the financial year 1990–91 and the Government resources allocated to identifying individuals in that category.
§ Mr. JackThe latest available information on the take-up of the income-related benefits is for 1987 and is contained in the published "Estimates of Take-up", a copy of which is available in the Library.
573WInformation about the resources for identifying individuals who may be eligible for such benefit could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the likely impact of SI 1991, No. 1950 on eliminating backdated claims for benefit and the numbers affected; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe amendment regulations in SI 1991, No. 1950 define more explicitly the circumstances in which unlimited arrears of benefit are payable on review in cases of official error. They carry forward in a more specific format the provisions of the previous regulation 72. It is still possible, therefore, for claimants to obtain unlimited arrears of benefit provided that there is evidence to show that there has been official error.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the likely impact of SI. 1991, 1520 on reducing entitlement to family credit and income support and the numbers affected; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeSI 1991 No. 1520 amends the Family Credit (General) Regulations 1987. It reduces the number of hours which a person will need to work to satisfy the remunerative work rule in family credit from 24 to 16 hours from April 1992. Otherwise it contains only minor amendments.
The change in the hours rule will not reduce entitlement to family credit. On the contrary, it will bring many more families into eligibility. We estimate that around 45,000 families on income support and working 16 or more hours a week will become eligible for family credit in April 1992. Around 30,000 of them will be entitled to more family credit than they would otherwise receive in income support. For the remainder, there will be protection arrangements which will enable them to continue to receive income support, where appropriate on top of their family credit.
We expect that a further 35,000 families with a parent who is already working 16 hours or more will come on to family credit in due course after April 1992. In the longer term we expect the reduction in the qualifying hours rule to attract many more people into work and on to family credit and thus become better off.
Separate provisions will ensure that an estimated 15,000 people without dependent children working between 16 and 24 hours a week and receiving income support at the point of change will continue to be entitled to that benefit from April 1992.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 18 October,Official Report, columns 275–76, if he will give the number and
574W
Year Unemployed claimants As proportion of all claimants receiving help with mortgages Per cent Lone parents As proportion of all claimants receiving help with mortgages Per cent Supplementary Benefit 1981 139,000 71 36,000 18 1982 191,000 81 40,000 17 1983 182,000 75 49,000 20 1984 200,000 72 54,000 19 1986 244,000 69 66,000 19 percentage of the total of those in receipt of (a) income support pensioner premium. (b) retirement pension, (c) SERPS, (d) a and b, (e) a and c, (f) b and c.
§ Miss WiddecombeI will write to the hon. Member shortly.