§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the cost of increasing the earning disregard for housing benefit by £5 per child for families with children. [37241]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe estimated cost of increasing the earnings disregard by £5 per child for families with children is £80 million1 in a full year.
1Figure rounded to the nearest £10 million.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to link the housing benefit system to(a) the family credit system and (b) a tax credit scheme. [37227]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyWe have no plans to link the Housing Benefit system to the Family Credit system. Issues to do with tax credit schemes, such as the Working Families Tax Credit, are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the cost of increasing the earning disregard threshold for housing benefit(a) from £5 to £10 for single people, and by £10 for other claimants and (b) from £5 to £20 for single people and by £20 for other claimants. [37242]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe information is set out in the table.
Estimated cost of increasing the earning disregard £ million Earnings disregard change Cost (full year) (a) increase by £5 for singles, £10 others 110 (b) increase by £15 for singles, £20 others 250 Note:
Costs rounded to nearest £10 million.