§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for which groups the receipt of child benefit brings eligibility to other social security benefits; and at what income levels such eligibility is reached. [36773]
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellReceipt of child benefit is the principal qualification for child allowances and, therefore, a family premium in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit, and for child dependency increases of retirement pension, widows benefit, short-term incapacity benefit—IB—at the higher rate, long-term IB, invalid care allowance, severe disablement allowance, higher rate industrial death benefit, unemployability supplement, and short-term IB at the lower rate and unemployment benefit if the beneficiary is over pension age. In the income-related benefits, eligibility arises where applicable amounts, including any child allowances and family premium, exceed the benefit unit's income. Child benefit is counted as income for the purposes of income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit, but not for family credit and disability working allowance.
Child dependency increases in the non-income-related benefits are not subject to an income rule but, with exception of widows' benefits, the increase for the first child is withdrawn when the beneficiary's spouse or partner's earnings reach £130. Any increases for subsequent children are withdrawn for each subsequent £17 of earnings.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents or guardians of those aged 16 to 19 years in full-time education have received child benefit; and what was the(a) gross and (b) net cost of such payments in each of the last three years and in the current year to date. [36777]
§ Mr. MitchellThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 Number of families (000) 1,016 1,038 1,089 Gross expenditure (£ million) 581 598 644 Net expenditure (£ million) 465 480 515 Sources:
1. 1996 Departmental Report.
2. Child Benefit management information statistics.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents or guardians of those aged 16 to 19 years, in full-time education, over the last three years to date, have declined to accept child benefit. [36778]
§ Mr. MitchellTake-up of child benefit has always been close to 100 per cent. of those entitled. The benefit is paid only on receipt of a claim from the parent or guardian. No information is available about how many beneficiaries voluntarily relinquish child benefit where there is continuing entitlement, but the number is believed to be negligible.