§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the annual savings from the proposed limitation of backdating of benefit claims to one month; and if she will break this total down by client group. [14020]
86W
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe information is in the table.
£ million cash 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Elderly 0 10 14 14 Long-term sick and disabled 0 14 18 18 Lone parents 0 8 10 10 Unemployed 0 10 16 16 Others 0 0 0 0 Total 0 42 58 58
- 1. The estimated savings relate to the proposed measure in the Social Security Bill to reduce the maximum amount of backdating of benefit claims from three months to one month.
- 2. Estimates are based on an ad hoc survey of backdated benefit claims undertaken during 1996 uprated in line with Departmental forecasts of benefit expenditure. The savings are in addition to those estimated for the April 1997 changes which reduced the maximum amount of backdating of benefit claims to three months and benefit reviews to one month.
- 3. Allocation of benefit savings to client groups is in accordance with the convention used in tables 4 and 5 of the 1997 Departmental Report. Income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit savings are divided between the expected beneficiaries.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the expected annual savings from the limitation of backdating of benefit claims to three months; and if she will break this total down by client group. [14021]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe information is in the table.
£ million cash 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Elderly 36 48 63 63 Long-term sick and disabled 33 49 49 49 Lone parents 18 20 20 20 Unemployed 3 3 3 3 Total 90 120 135 135
- 1. The estimated savings relate to the April 1997 changes which reduced the maximum amount of backdating of benefit claims to three months and benefit reviews to one month.
- 2. Based on an ad hoc survey of backdated benefit claims undertaken during 1996, uprated in line with Departmental forecasts of benefit expenditure.
- 3. Allocation of benefit savings to client groups is in accordance with the convention used in Tables 4 and 5 of the 1997 Departmental Report. Income support savings are divided between the expected beneficiaries.