HC Deb 07 December 1993 vol 234 cc201-2W
Miss Lestor

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents currently receive family credit.

Mr. Burt

The number of lone parents in receipt of family credit was 206,000 at the latest available date.

Source: 5 per cent. sample of family credit recipients at 30 April 1993.

Mrs. Wise

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures showing the proposed family credit ceilings in 1994–95 for each of(a) a married couple with one child aged under five years, (b) a married couple with two children aged under 11 years, (c) a married couple with two children aged over 11 years, (d) a married couple with three children aged under 11 years, (e) a married couple with three children aged over 11 years and (f) a married couple with two children aged under 11 years and two children aged over 11 years.

Mr. Burt

At the new benefit levels proposed for April 1994, the family credit ceilings represented by the highest amount of net earnings and other relevant income a family can have and still qualify for family credit at the minimum payment of 50p will be as follows:

£
Married couple with one child under 5 years 150.27
Married couple with two children under 11 166.27
Married couple with two children over 11 (but under 16) 187.27
Married couple with three children under 11 182.27
Married couple with three children over 11 (but under 16) 213.77
Married couple with two children under 11 and two children over 11 (but under 16) 219.27

Relevant income excludes child benefit, which is disregarded for family credit purposes. Therefore, in addition to the amounts above, a one-child family will have £10£25 child benefit, a two-child family £18.45, a three-child family £26.70 and a four-child family £34.95. Relevant income also excludes the first £15 of any maintenance payable.

From October 1994, up to £40 a week will be disregarded in the calculation of net earnings in respect of formal childcare costs incurred where there is a child under 11 in the family of a couple where both are working, or where one is working and the other is incapacitated, increasing the potential ceilings still further. The disregard will also apply to lone parent families.