HC Deb 08 June 1999 vol 332 cc305-6W
Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the minimum possible Income Support paid per week under the proposals for welfare reform to a single adult aged over 18 years, with no dependants, who has no savings or other income, and(a) who is not eligible for JSA because the severity of his disability makes him unable to do any work and (b) is eligible for JSA but is unable to find work; and what is the proposed minimum level of Disability Income Guarantee. [85939]

Companies the Government has made payments for consultancy regarding the computerisation of the Benefits Agency in the last three years
Project Contract dates Contract award value Successful company Current status
Programme Accounting Group (PAG) Consultancy Support 12 November 1996 to 31 December 1996 £36,450 KPMG Finished
Programme Accounting Group/Programme Accounting Computer System (PACS) Consultancy Support 21 October 1996 to 21 December 1996 £63,508 SEMA Finished
Consultancy Support 21 October 1996 to 31 December 1996 £138,300 KPMG
Programme Design Authority (PDA). Implementation Group Support £135,000 Andersens Finished
Card Access Payment System (CAPS). Programme and Card Payment Delivery Review 11 November 1996 to 28 February 1997 £122,800 Ernst and Young Finished
Card Access Payment System (CAPS) Migration Conformance Manager 1 April 1997 £78,000 PA Consulting Finished
Programme Accounting Group (PAG). IT Consultant 1 April 1997 to 30 June 1997 £31,500 Pricewaterhouse Coopers Finished
Card Access Payment System (CAPS) 9 June 1997 to 8 June 1999 £91,767,220 Andersens Ongoing
Consultancy Support £613,662 A.S.E. Ongoing
Financial and Management Information System (FAMIS) Study of Private Sector Partnership potential 20 May 1997 to 27 June 1997 £34,900 KPMG Finished

Angela Eagle

Disabled people with a low income may be eligible to claim Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance. The overall weekly amount of benefit payable will depend on the individual's circumstances, such as their age, the severity of their disability and other factors. If they satisfy all the conditions for entitlement to the full IS/JSA personal allowance, a single person aged 18 to 24 would currently receive a personal allowance of £40.70. A single person aged 25 or over would receive a personal allowance of £51.40. If they qualified for the disability premium they would receive a further £21.90. The same rates of benefit apply to both Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance.

Our proposals on welfare reform for disabled people were set out in our consultation document "A new contract for welfare: SUPPORT FOR DISABLED PEOPLE" published last October. Under the proposals, a new Disability Income Guarantee will be introduced in April 2001 and will provide extra help and security for those with the highest care needs. It will provide help through the income-related benefits to severely disabled adults and families with disabled children who get the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance. The overall amount of benefit will depend on individual circumstances. The increase in support builds on the help that is already available because of disability. This extra support will be paid through a new higher rate of disability premium. At April 1998 rates, it will be worth an extra £5.75 for a single adult or child, and £8.30 for a couple.