§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many income support claimants who work between 16 and 24 hours a week currently(a) receive direct help with mortgage interest payments and (b) are eligible to apply to the social fund for help with the cost of furniture and other essential household items; and if he will subdivide the figures into childless, couples with children, and lone parent household categories;
(2) whether income support claimaints who work between 16 and 24 hours a week and who currently (a) receive direct help with mortgage interest payments and (b) are eligible to apply to the social fund for help with the cost of furniture and other items will have their eligibility for assistance fully protected after April 1992 by special protection arrangements.
§ Miss WiddecombeWe estimate that around 15,000 people currently receiving income support and working between 16 and 24 hours a week are receiving help with mortgage interest payments. Because of the small size of the sample, it is not possible to subdivide this number into household categories. Anyone receiving income support, whether or not they are working, is eligible to apply to the social fund for help under the normal rules.
People whose entitlement to income support is protected when the hours rule changes from 24 to 16 a week from 7 April will have the same rights to help with their mortgage interest payments and to apply for social fund payments as they do at present.