§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the extent of the benefit reduction imposed in respect of claimants penalised for failing to attend a restart interview.
§ Mr. BurtThere is no benefit reduction for failing to attend an initial restart interview. But if a person fails, without good cause, to attend a second interview, the only entitlement will be under income support hardship rules. This entails a reduction of 40 per cent. in the single personal allowance—20 per cent if the claimant or a member of the family is pregnant or seriously ill and there is little or no capital. The reduction lasts until the claimant attends a rearranged interview or my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State withdraws the notice of the interview. The effect of these reductions on income support allowances is shown in the table.
Age of claimant Personal allowance Allowance less 40 per cent. Allowance 20 per cent. Under 18 27.50 16.50 22.00 18–24 36.15 21.70 28.90 25 and over 45.70 27.40 36.55