§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the capital limits in those benefits for which he is responsible expressed in(a) cash terms and (b) terms of years of maximum ISA allowances at (i) the first year rate and (ii) subsequent yearly rates. [111363]
§ Mr. Bayley(a) The capital limits for the income-related benefits are given in the table.
£ Benefit Lower capital limit Upper capital limit Income Support 3,000 8,000 110,000 116,000 Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance 3,000 8,000 110,000 116,000 Housing Benefit 3,000 16,000 Council Tax Benefit 3,000 16,000 1 For residential care and nursing home cases (b) (i) Expressed as years of maximum ISA allowances, for accounts opened in the period April 1999-March 2000, a person making the maximum investment of £7,000 would reach the £8,000 benefit upper limit during the second year, and the £16,000 limit during the third year. (ii) For investments started in subsequent years where the maximum ISA allowance is £5,000, a person would reach the £8,000 benefit upper limit during the second year, and the £16,000 limit during the fourth year.