HC Deb 20 January 1998 vol 304 cc496-7W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each non-means-tested benefit(a) the number of people currently receiving the benefit and (b) if it is taken into account for claims for (i) income support, (ii) housing benefit, (iii) council tax benefit and (iv) assessment of tax; and if he will indicate the date from which each benefit was taken into account in respect of (i) to (iv). [22082]

Mr. Denham

Information about the number of recipients of non-means-tested benefits is in the table.

Benefit Total recipients
Attendance Allowance1 1,199,000
Disability Living Allowance1 1,924,000
Invalid Care Allowance2 371,000
War Disablement Pension3 262,305
War Widow's Pension3 58,364
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit4 244,798
Incapacity Benefit5 1,718,400
Severe Disablement Allowance5 368,560
Retirement Pension6 10,709,300
Widow's benefit6 283,600
Child Benefit7 6,954,575
Child Benefit (lone parent)7 1,049,325
Guardian's Allowance8 2,206
Child's Special Allowance8 38
Jobseeker's Allowance (contribution based)9 251,000
Statutory Maternity Pay10 90,000
Statutory Sick Pay10 305,000
Maternity Allowance11 11,860
1 Source is 5 per cent. data and figures relate to 31 August 1997.
2Source is 100 per cent. data and figures relate to 1 October 1997.
3 Source is 100 per cent. data as at November 1997.
4 Figures are based on a 10 per cent. sample and include a rating factor for late returns. Figures are at 30 March 1996.
5 Figures are taken for a 5 per cent. sample and exclude a small number of cases held clerically. Figures are at 31 August 1997.
6 Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample as at 30 November 1997.
7 Figures are based on a 4 per cent. sample as at 3 December 1997.
8 As at 31 December 1996, figures are based on a 100 per cent. count.
9 As at February 1997 from a 5 per cent. sample. This excludes cases with underlying entitlement who receive income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
10 Figures are not available as this information is not collected for Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Sick Pay.
11 Figures as at 31 May 1997.

Income Support and Housing Benefit were introduced in 1988 and Council Tax Benefit from 1992. Assessment of entitlement to these benefits has always taken account of non-income-related benefits, with the exception of Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance'. In addition, £10 week of a War Disablement Pension or War Widow's Pension' is disregarded. Certain other allowances paid with the War Pension may also be disregarded—for example, those based on the need for care or mobility and the supplementary pension payable to those widows of members of the Armed Forces whose service ended before 31 March 1973. Guardian's Allowance is fully disregarded in Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit.

The following only non-income-related benefits are taxable. These benefits, with the year of their introduction, are Incapacity Benefit (after 28 weeks) (1995), Invalid Care Allowance (1976), Jobseeker's Allowance (contribution-based) (1996), Retirement Pension (1948), Statutory Sick Pay (1983), Statutory Maternity Pay (1987), and Widow's Benefit (1988).

Note:

1The position with regard to Attendance Allowance (AA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Income Support is slightly more complex. A person in receipt of Income Support with preserved rights in a residential care home will have their AA or DLA care component fully taken into account when assessing their Income Support.

2When calculating entitlement to Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit local authorities have discretionary power to operate a local scheme which enables them to disregard, in total or part, any war disablement or war widows pension not subject to the mandatory disregards.