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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the level of the capital rules if they had been uprated in line with (a) prices and (b) earnings, since May 1997. [9812] Mr. McCartney: The estimated levels of the capital rules if they had been uprated in line with (a) prices and (b) earnings since 1997 are shown in the table. The lower capital limit for the minimum income guarantee was doubled from £3,000 to £6,000 in April 2001. The upper limit of £8,000 was increased to £12,000 at the same time. Actual capital limits £ _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Actual 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 IS/JSA/HB Lower Limit 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 IS Upper Limit 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 MIG Lower limits 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 6,000 MIG Upper limit 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 12,000 Social Fund (60 or over) 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 Social Fund (under 60) 500 500 500 500 500 HB/CTB upper limit 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Rossi (equivalent price index used for benefit uprating) £ _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Rossi 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 MIG/IS/HB Lower limits 3,000 3,072 3,137 3,187 3,238 MIG/IS Upper limit 8,000 8,192 8,364 8,498 8,634 Social Fund (60 or over) 1,000 1,024 1,046 1,062 1,079 Social Fund (under 60) 500 512 523 531 540 HB/CTB upper limit 16,000 16,384 16,728 16,996 17,268 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Average earnings £ _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Earnings 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 MIG/IS/HB Lower limits 3,000 3,120 3,298 3,450 3,584 MIG/IS Upper limit 8,000 8,320 8,794 9,199 9,558 Social Fund (60 or over) 1,000 1,040 1,099 1,150 1,195 Social Fund (under 60) 500 520 550 575 597 HB/CTB upper limit 16,000 16,640 17,588 18,398 19,115 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Note: Social Fund Limits apply only to discretionary payments

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

375 c534-6W;375 c536-7W; 9812

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Capital rules Personal income Pensioners Personal savings Social security benefits Uprating

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk