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Dept of Social Security

Answer

Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the eligibility criteria for family credit in terms of income in 1988 and in each year since then. [40239] Mr. Roger Evans: The income threshold for eligibility to family credit will vary depending on each family's individual circumstances. For each family size, there is a maximum amount of family credit payable. This consists of an adult credit (the same amount is payable for both couples and lone parents), a child credit for each child (the amount payable depends upon age) and, from July 1995, an additional credit for people who work 30 hours or more a week. If a family's net income--after allowable disregards-- is below an "applicable amount", the maximum amount of family credit is payable. If their income is above the applicable amount, 70p of every £1 of the excess is deducted from the maximum payable. The level of family credit rates since 1988 are set out in the table. Family Credit Rates £ _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Adult credit Child credit Child credit Child credit Child credit 30 hour Applicable for ages for ages for ages for age 18 credit amount under 11 11-15 16-17 1988 32.10 6.05 11.40 14.70 21.35 -- 51.45 1989 33.60 7.30 12.90 16.35 23.50 -- 54.80 1990 36.35 8.25 14.15 17.80 25.10 -- 57.60 1991 38.30 9.70 16.10 20.05 27.95 -- 62.25 1992 41.00 10.40 17.25 21.45 29.90 -- 66.60 1993 42.50 10.75 17.85 22.20 31.00 -- 69.00 1994 44.30 11.20 18.55 23.05 32.20 -- 71.70 1995 45.10 11.40 18.90 23.45 32.80 10.00 73.00 1996 46.45 11.75 19.45 24.15 33.80 10.30 75.20 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

40239; 282 c775-6W;282 c773-4W

Session

1995-96

Subjects

Child benefit Benefits rules Family credit Social security benefits

Contains statistics

Yes