§ Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of lone parents who have been disadvantaged by increased maintenance payments from absentee fathers because of a resultant ineligibility for income support and related benefits.
§ Mr. BurtIt is estimated that, by April 1997, 30, 000 lone parents will have ceased to be eligible for income support, due to increased maintenance payments. The majority of these lone parents will be better off than they were when receiving income support.
201WIt is possible that some may lose entitlement to passported benefits such as free prescriptions or access to some provisions of the social fund. The low-income scheme operated by the Department of Health means that people on low income may still remain exempt for some or all NHS charges. However, it is not possible to determine how many will have incomes that will not qualify for social security income-related benefits or help under the low-income scheme.