HC Deb 21 May 1996 vol 278 cc185-6W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate(a) the number of people claiming means-tested in-work benefits, (b) the number of claimants' adult dependants and (c) the number of their children in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1995. [27830]

Mr. Burt

[holding answer 2 May 1996]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

Figures for 1994 are given as this is the last year for which complete information is available.

Persons claiming means-tested in-work benefits1
May 1979 May 1994 October 1995
Family income supplement/family credit7
Number of persons claiming 78,000 551,000 643,000
Number of adult dependants6 40,000 315,000 355,000
Number of children 9184,000 1,123,000 1,297,000
Persons claiming means-tested in-work benefits1
May 1979 May 1994 October 1995
Disability working allowance
Number of persons claiming 8n/a 4,251 7,644
Number of adult dependants6 8n/a 1,633 2,881
Number of children 8n/a 3,048 5,764
Housing benefit
Number of persons claiming 3n/a 316,000 4n/a
Number of adult dependants6 3n/a 139,000 4n/a
Number of children 3n/a 349,000 4n/a
Council tax benefit
Number of persons claiming 3n/a 332,000 4n/a
Number of adult dependents6 3n/a 186,000 4n/a
Number of children 3n/a 382,000 4n/a

Notes:

1 Means tested in-work benefits are defined as family income supplement/family credit, disability working allowance and housing benefit and council tax benefit paid direct to people with earnings who are not on income support. The same individual may be claiming more than one benefit.

2 Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand except for disability working allowance where exact figures are quoted.

3 Comparable data on housing benefit and council tax benefit is not available for 1979.

4 Data for housing benefit and council tax benefit is not available for 1995.

5 The figures include estimates due to the data collection procedure in Scotland.

6 Adult dependants are defined as the partner of the claimant.

7 Family credit replaced family income supplement in April 1988.

8 Disability working allowance was introduced in April 1992.

9 Approximate figure based on number of families with varying multiples of children.

Sources:

Social Security Statistics 1979.

Family credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

Disability working allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.

Housing benefit management information system annual 1 per cent. sample taken at the end of May 1994.