§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to ensure that families with children in receipt of income support continue to receive social security payments in respect of these children until child tax credit is in payment. [121968]
§ Maria Eagle[holding answer 26 June 2003]: Income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance customers will be migrated to child tax credit from April 2004.
The principal legislation governing the transfer in the Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/455) states clearly that child allowances in income support will not be removed until a child tax credit award has been made. We are working closely with Inland Revenue to ensure that processes are in place to make this happen smoothly.
Where a family receiving income support chooses to claim child tax credit before April 2004, they will be entitled to the maximum rate of child tax credit which will be taken into account as income in their income support assessment. These families will continue to be awarded child premia and allowances with their benefit, which will offset their child tax credit income.