§ 30. Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if it is his policy to increase the present levels of earnings disregards in income-related benefits. [145989]
§ Angela EagleFrom April 2001 we are increasing the higher rate disregard in the income-related benefits, for lone parents, disabled people and other special groups, from £15 to £20 a week (other than for those lone parents 87W receiving Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit who are already eligible for a disregard of £25 a week). This will benefit over 55,000 people.
We are focusing help on people for whom full-time work may not be an immediate option, to help them keep in touch with the labour market through part-time work.
We also want all children, including those in families on Income Support, to benefit directly from child maintenance paid. As part of the child support reforms we will therefore introduce further changes to enable parents with care on Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) to keep up to £10 a week of any child maintenance paid.