HC Deb 20 November 2000 vol 357 c65W
Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of Income Support who are (i) unemployed and (ii) single parents have been in receipt of the benefit for(a) up to one year, (b) one to two years,(c) two to three years, (d) more than three years and (e) other periods for which information is available. [137094]

Angela Eagle

Income-based Jobseeker"s Allowance replaced Income Support as the income related benefit for unemployed people with effect from October 1996. Recipients of Income Support may however, work part time for up to 16 hours per week. Their partner, should they have one, may work up to 24 hours per week without affecting entitlement to Income Support.

Income Support lone parents by duration, Great Britain, May 2000
Thousand
Duration Number of claimants
Under 1 year 213.0
1–2 years 150.9
2–3 years 104.2
3 years and over 442.0
Total of all cases 910.1

Notes:

1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands

2. Based on 5 per cent. sample (therefore subject to sampling error)

3. Lone parents are single claimants with dependants who are not receiving the disability or pensioner premium

Source:

Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 2000

Income-based Jobseeker"s Allowance claimants by duration, Great Britain, May 2000
Thousand
Duration Number of claimants
Under 1 year 562.6
1–2 years 113.5
2–3 years 50.3
3 years and over 98.1
Total of all cases 824.5

Notes:

1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands

2. Based on 5 per cent. sample therefore subject to sampling error

3. Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance claimants may have underlying entitlement to benefit via the contributory route

4. Jobseeker"s Allowance replaced Income Support for the unemployed with effect from October 1996

Source:

Jobseeker"s Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 2000.