HC Deb 24 June 1998 vol 314 cc552-6W
Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many couples with children aged(a) under 11 years and (b) 11 years and above, claiming income support after 5 April, will be better off as a result of changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in April 1999 by (i) up to £2.50, (ii) £2.51 to £5, (iii) £5.01 to £7.50, (iv) £7.50 to £10 and (v) £10.01 and above per week; and how many will remain unaffected. [46001]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The changes announced in the Budget which are due to take effect from April 1999 consist of a £2.50 increase in Child Benefit for the eldest child, and a £2.50 increase in the Family Premium in Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. The information requested on the numbers affected by this change is in the tables.

Couples in receipt of income support (IS)/jobseeker's allowance (JSA) with children under the age of eleven
Weekly gain Receiving IS/JSA at April 5 Numbers affected New IS/JSA awards after April 5 Total
Unaffected 0 0 0
Up to £2.50 175,000 135,000 315,000
£2.51 to £5 0 0 0
£5.0 to £7.50 0 0 0
£7.51 to £10.00 0 0 0
Over £10.00 0 0 0
Total 175,000 135.000 315,000
Couples in receipt of income support (IS)/jobseeker's allowance (JSA) with youngest child aged eleven years and above
Numbers affected
Weekly gain Receiving IS/JSA at April 5 New IS/JSA awards after April 5 Total
Unaffected 0 0 0
Up to £2.50 75,000 30,000 105,000
£2.51 to £5 0 0 0
£5.01 to £7.50 0 0 0
£7.51 to £10.00 0 0 0
Over £10.00 0 0 0
Total 75,000 30,000 105,000

Notes:

  1. 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 5,000. Caseloads have been projected to the end of 1998–99. Caseloads may not sum to the total because of rounding
  2. 2. The analysis covers changes to Social Security benefits announced in the Budget and which are due to take effect in April 1999. All other Budget measures, such as increases in the child personal allowances for the under elevens and changes to the Married Couples Tax Allowance, have been excluded
  3. 3. Post April 5 case is defined as someone whose IS claim began after April 5, or who was on IS before April 5 but not as part of a couple with children

Source: Based on data taken from the May 1996 Income Support Quarterly Statistical Inquiry uprated to 1998–99 prices, benefits and earnings level and calibrated to the forecasts underlying the 1998 Departmental report

Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many couples with children aged(a) under 11 years and (b) 11 years and above, claiming income support after 5 April will be better off as a result of the changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in November by (i) up to £2.50, (ii) £2.51 to £5, (iii) £5.01 to £7.50, (iv) £7.50 to £10 and (v) £10.01 and above per week; and how many will remain unaffected. [45996]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The changes announced in the Budget which are due to take effect from November consist of a £2.50 increase in personal allowances for children under eleven in Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit, Family Credit and Council Tax Benefit. The information requested on the numbers affected by this change is in the tables.

Couples in receipt of income support (IS) jobseeker's allowance (JSA) with children under the age of eleven
Numbers affected
Weekly gain Receiving IS/JSA at April 5 New IS/JSA awards after April 5 Total
Unaffected 0 0 0
Up to £2.50 70,000 60,000 135,000
£2.51 to £5.00 65,000 45,000 110,000
£5.01 to £7.50 30,000 20,000 50,000
£7.51 to £10.00 10,000 5,000 15,000
Over £10.00 5,000 * 5,000
Total 175,000 135,000 315,000

Couples in receipt of income support (IS)/jobseeker's allowance (JSA) with youngest child aged eleven years and above
Numbers affected
Weekly gain Receiving IS/JSA at April 5 New IS/JSA awards after April 5 Total
Unaffected 75,000 30,000 105,000
Up to £2.50 0 0 0
£2.51 to £5.00 0 0 0
£5.01 to £7.50 0 0 0
£7.51 to £10.00 0 0 0
Over £10.00 0 0 0
Total 75,000 30,000 105,000

Notes:

  1. 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 5,000, * denotes a caseload of less than 5,000. Caseloads have been projected to the end of 1998–99. Caseloads may not sum to the total because of rounding
  2. 2. Post April 5 case is defined as someone whose IS claim began after April 5, or who was on IS before April 5 but not as part of a couple with children

Source: Based on data taken from the May 1996 Income Support Quarterly Statistical Inquiry uprated to 1998–99 prices, benefits and earnings level and calibrated to the forecasts underlying the 1998 Departmental report

Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many couples with children aged(a) under 11 years and (b) 11 years and above, working more than 16 hours per week after 1 June will be better off after the changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in April 1999 by (i) up to £2.50, (ii) £2.51 to £5, (iii) £5.01 to £7.50, (iv) £7.50 to £10 and (v) £10.01 and above per week; and how many will remain unaffected. [46000]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The changes announced in the Budget which are due to take effect from April 1999 consist of a £2.50 increase in Child Benefit for the eldest child, and a £2.50 increase in the Family Premium in Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. The information requested on the numbers affected by this change is in the tables.

Couples with children under the age of eleven
Weekly gain Numbers affected
Unaffected 0
Up to £2.50 3,220,000
£2.51 to £5 0
£5.01 to £7.50 0
£7.51 to £10.00 0
Over £10.00 0
Total 3,220,000
Couples with youngest child aged eleven years and above
Weekly gain Numbers affected
Unaffected 0
Up to £2.50 1,405,000
£2.51 to £5 0
£5.01 to £7.50 0
£7.51 to £10.00 0
Over £10.00 0
Total 1,405,000

Notes:

  1. 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 5,000
  2. 2. The analysis covers changes to Social Security benefits announced in the Budget and which are due to take effect in April 1999. All other Budget measures, such as increases in the child personal allowances for the under elevens and changes to the Married Couples Tax Allowance, have been excluded
  3. 3. Caseload information reflects the position for all couples with children, working more than 16 hours per week, at the end of 1998–99

Source: Based on data taken from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1998–99 prices, benefits and earnings levels and calibrated to the forecasts underlying the 1998 Departmental report.

Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many couples with children aged(a) under 11 and (b) 11 years and above, working more than 16 hours per week after 1 June will be better off after the changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in November by (i) up to £2.50, (ii) £2.51 to £5, (iii) £5.01 to £7.50, (iv) £7.50 to £10 and (v) £10.01 and above per week; and how many will remain unaffected. [45995]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The changes announced in the Budget which are due to take effect from November, consist of a £2.50 increase in the personal allowance for children under eleven in Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Family Credit. The information requested on the number affected by this change is in the tables.

Couples with children under the age of eleven
Weekly gain Numbers affected
Unaffected 2,855,000
Up to £2.50 150,000
£2.51 to £5 130,000
£5.01 to £7.50 65,000
£7.51 to £10.00 20,000
Over £10.00 *
Total 3,220,00
Couples with youngest child aged eleven years and above
Weekly gain Numbers affected
Unaffected 1,405,000
Up to £2.50 0
£2.51 to £5 0
£5.01 to £7.50 0
£7.51 to £10.00 0
Over £10.00 0
Total 1,405,000

Notes:

  1. 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 5,000, * denotes a caseload of less than 5,000
  2. 2. Caseload information reflects the position for all couples with children, working more than 16 hours per week, at the end of 1998–99.

Source: Based on data taken from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1998–99 prices, benefits and earnings levels and calibrated to the forecasts underlying the 1998 Departmental report