§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was(a) the average, (b) the lowest and (c) the highest total payout made from the social fund by the Southampton benefits office in the most recent year.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter front Michael Bichard to Mr. John Denham, dated 14 March 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Social Fund (SF) in Southampton.605WSince the formation of the Benefits Agency (BA) in April 1991 all former DSS local offices were formed into Districts. The BA's Southampton office is now part of the BA District of Solent and New Forest. which comprises the offices of Southampton, Fareham and New Forest. Information is available only at District level.I have provided at Annex A the average awards for Community Care Grants (CCG). Budgeting Loans (BLs). Crisis Loans (CLs), Funeral Payments and Maternity Payments made in the Solent and New Forest District in the year 1993–94. No Cold Weather Payments were made in the District during that year. I should add that Maternity payments can be made up to a maximum of £100, although in multiple pregnancies the £100 maximum can be made for each child. Therefore, the average Maternity Payments was slightly above £100.Statistics showing the lowest or highest amounts awarded are not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. However, statistics are readily available showing the number of awards made within certain cash bands and at Annex B I have provided the number of awards within the lowest and highest cash bands for each part of the Fund in 1993–94.The minimum amount that can be awarded for both CCGs and BLs is £30. There is no minimum award for CLs, therefore, the amount awarded will be enough to relieve the immediate emergency or disaster, after taking into account any income or capital the applicant has.All SF loans are limited to the amount the individual applicant can afford to repay. The maximum amount of SF loans the individual applicant may have outstanding at any one time is £1,000. Therefore, no award can be made which, either singularly or when added to any outstanding amount, will exceed £1,000. There is no maximum amount rule for CCGs and this accounts for the different high and low cash bands.I hope you find this reply helpful.
Annex A. Average award made in the Solent and New Forest District for community care grants, budgeting loans. crisis loans, funeral payments and maternity payments for the year April 1993–March 1994 Type Average award Budgeting loan 229.99 Crisis loan 51.14 Community care grant 260.71 Funeral payment 792.82 Maternity payment 100.78
Annex B: The number of community care grant, budgeting loan, crisis loan. funeral payment and maternity payment awards made and the number of awards within the lowest and highest cash bands for Solent and New Forest district April 1993–March 1994 Type Up to £50 £901 to £1,000 Total awards Budgeting loan 409 26 7,403 Crisis loan 5.677 1 7,548
Type Up to £50 Above £1,000 Total awards Community care grant 345 48 1,908 Funeral payment 12 68 458
Type £51 to £100 £101 to £200 Total awards Maternity payment 2.063 17 2.080