HC Deb 26 June 1996 vol 280 cc178-9W
Mr. Hain

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those provisions of social security legislation which have transferred claimant groups from one benefit to another since 1979; and if he will give approximate numbers of affected claimants. [34486]

Mr. Burt

The main legislative provisions which have resulted in the transfer of recipients from one benefit to another are listed in the table, together with such information as is available regarding the numbers affected.

Legislation Effect Approximate numbers affected at point of change
Social Security (Introduction to Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 1991 Claimants in receipt of mobility allowance were transferred to disability living allowance (mobility component) 1700,000
Income Support (General) Amendment Regulations 1991, Family Credit (General) Amendment Regulations 1991 Claimants in receipt of income support who were working for between 16 and 24 hours per week became eligible to claim family credit Not available
Council Tax (General) Regulations 1992 Council tax benefit introduced to replace community charge benefit 25.5 million
Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations 1995 Claimants in receipt of sickness and invalidity benefits were transferred to incapacity benefit 1.9 million
s.40(2) of the Jobseekers Act 1995 Claimants in receipt of unemployment benefit and/or income support for the unemployed will be transferred to jobseeker's allowance from 7 October 1996 Numbers will depend on actual numbers claiming
1 Claimants who received both attendance allowance and mobility allowance are included in both figures; the total number of people affected is not available.
2 Figures based on numbers claiming before and after change; actual number of transfers may be lower.