§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the current capital limits to the entitlement to benefits and other assistance together with the year of introduction; what was the value of each in real terms at the time of introduction; and if he will make a statement. [16611]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe five income-related benefits—council tax benefit, disability working allowance, family credit, housing benefit and income support—all have a lower capital limit, above which deductions are made from benefit, and an upper capital limit, above which no benefit can be paid. The lower capital limit in all those benefits is also the level above which no personal allowance can be paid for a dependent child if he possesses that amount of capital or more.
Additionally, in qualifying for a social fund maternity or funeral payment, community care grant or budgeting loan, if capital is held above a certain limit, deductions are made from any payment awarded.
The limits, and the dates when they were introduced or last increased, are set out in the table.
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£ Date fixed Value now if uprated in line with prices1 Council Tax Benefit Lower capital limit £3,000 April 1993 3,108 Upper capital limit £16,000 April 1993 16,576 Disability Working Allowance Lower capital limit £3,000 April 1992 3,216 Upper capital limit £16,000 April 1992 £16,596 Family Credit Lower capital limit £3,000 April 1988 4,105 Upper capital limit £8,000 April 1990 9,940 Housing Benefit Lower capital limit £3,000 April 1988 4,105 Upper capital limit £16,000 April 1990 19,881 Income Support Lower capital limit £3,000 April 1988 4,105 Upper capital limit £8,000 April 1990 9,940 Social Fund Capital limit for funeral £500 or maternity payments (up to age 60) April 1990 621 Capital limit for funeral £1,000 or maternity payments (60 and over) April 1990 1,242 Community care grant £500 (up to age 60) April 1988 684 Community care grant £1,000 (60 and over) April 1988 1,242 Budgeting loan £500 (up to age 60) April 1988 684 Budgeting loan £1,000 (60 and over) April 1988 1,242 1 Uprated in line with ROSSI—retail prices index excluding housing costs.