§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) for each benefit and each capital or income limit which is not to be increased in April 1996, the reasons for not going so and (b) the current value of
886W
Benefit/Limit Current value Date from which current value applied April 1996 rate if increased by rise in earnings since date at column 3 April 1996 rate if increased by rise in prices since date at column 3 Basis of calculation for figure in column (5) Widows Payment 1,000 April 1988 1,632.10 1,473.20 RPI Capital Limits in 3,000 April 1988 4,896.10 4,297.15 Rossi IS and FC 8,000 April 1990 10,929.20 10,403.60 Capital Limits in 3,000 April 1988 4,896.10 4,297.15 Rossi HB 16,000 April 1990 21,858.35 20,807.25 UB Earnings Limit 2 per day March 1982 5.20 4.00 RPI UB Earnings Limit (full extent normal) 12 December 1989 17.90 16.75 RPI IS Earnings 5 April 1988 8.15 7.15 Rossi Disregards 15 24,50 21.50 HB/CTB Earnings 5 April 1988 8.15 7.15 Rossi Disregards 10 April 1988 16.40 14.30 15 April 1988 24.50 21.50 25 October 1990 34.10 32.50 War Pension disregard for income-related benefits (irbs) 10 April 1990 13.65 12.95 Rossi Income from a boarder (irbs) 20 April 1990 27.30 26.00 Rossi Disregard of income from a sub-tenant 4 April 1988 6.45 5.75 Rossi Disregard of Training Bonus (irbs) 200 September 1988 326,45 294.60 RPI Maintenance disregard (HB, CTB, FC, DWA) 15 April 1992 17.35 16.90 Rossi Student Loan disregard (irbs) 10 September 1990 13.65 12.95 Rossi Occupational Pension Disregard (UB) 35 April 1981 101.80 77.10 RPI Lower savings limit for Voluntary Unemployment Deduction (UB and IS) 200 April 1988 326.45 286.45 Rossi Protected earnings limit where IS recovered after Trade Dispute 27 April 1988 44.05 38.65 SF Maternity Payment 100 April 1990 136.65 130.05 Rossi SF Capital Limits 500 April 1987 879.65 739.15 Rossi (Maternity and Funeral Payments) (Under 60) 1000 (60 years and over) April 1990 1,366.15 1,300.45 Additional Expenses limit for SF Funeral Payment 75 April 1987 132.00 110.90 Rossi Over 80 Age Addition to RP 25p September 1971 3,65 1.65 RPI Christmas Bonus 10 December 1972 110.55 66.95 RPI Limit for recovery of benefit from Compensation payments 2,500 September 1990 3,415.40 3,232.10 RPI ICA Earnings Limit 50 April 1993 55.10 54.05 RPI Lone Parent (IS)5.20 April 1995 15.35 5.35 Rossi Premium 11.50(HB/CTB) 111.85 111.85 each such benefit or limit and the value which would have resulted from increasing it in line with prices and average earnings since it was last increased or since it was introduced. [4084]
§ Mr. BurtThe figures requested for the existing social security benefits and capital or income limits which will not be uprated in April 1996 are in the table. In deciding whether or not to increase those benefits and limits which are not required to be uprated by statute, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State takes into account many factors, including the national economic situation and whether increasing these items is in accordance with his general policy.
887W
Benefit/Limit Current value Date from which current value applied April 1996 rate if increased by rise in earnings since date at column 3 April 1996 rate if increased by rise in prices since date at column 3 Basis of calculation for figure in column (5) One Parent Benefit 6.30 April 1995 6.50 6.55 RPI Community Care 500 April 1988 815.95 716.15 Rossi Grants and Budgeting loans (Under 60) 1,000 (60 years and over) 1,632.10 1,432.35 IS Amount for 1.10 April 1988 1.70 1.60 Rossi meals 1.55 2.50 2.20 IS: Personal 17.35 April 1995 17.85 17.85 Rossi Expenses for Claimant and Partner 15.55 April 1995 16.00 16.00 Rossi Dependant Child aged 18, Polish Home, Ilford Park Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Scheme Maximum Death Benefit 300 1952 12,697.50 4,475.00 RPI Notes:
1No difference between Earnings/Rossi calculations due to effect of rounding to nearest 5p.
The uprating of each benefit in column 5 has been carried out using price indices in the same way as for actual upratings since 1971. "RPI" in column 6 indicates that the Retail Price Index (all items) has been used throughout. "Rossi" refers to the RPI less all housing costs up to the 1991 uprating; the RPI less rent, mortgage payments and 80 per cent. of community charge for the 1992 uprating; and the RPI less rent, mortgage payments and council tax thereafter. It is assumed that benefits would have been uprated before 1971 in line with the RPI at the dates of uprating of Retirement Pension.
The uprating of benefits by earnings in column 4 is based on the average earnings of full-time adult male manual employees before 1963, the old series index of earnings from 1963 to 1976 and the average earnings index (whole economy) unadjusted since 1976. The same uprating dates have been used as for the calculations at column 5. The index for September 1995, used for the 1996 calculation, is provisional and subject to change.
All calculations are rounded to the nearest 5p at each uprating date. Where the current value of a benefit was set at a date between upratings the calculation has started from the previous uprating date.
Abbreviations:
IS = Income Support; FC = Family Credit: HB = Housing Benefit; UB = Unemployment Benefit; CTB = Council Tax Benefit; DWA = Disability Working Allowance; SF = Social Fund; RP = Retirement Pension; ICA = Invalid Care Allowance.