Written question asked by Patsy Calton (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 28 November 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 December 2002. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Thursday, 19 December 2002 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will extend the eligibility for community care grants and budgeting loans from the Social Fund to people (a) whose sole income is (i) incapacity benefit and (ii) contribution based jobseekers allowance and (b) who are receiving the maximum child tax credit. - Inc figure.

Answer: Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend the eligibility for community care grants and budgeting loans from the Social Fund to people (a) whose sole income is (i) incapacity benefit and (ii) contribution based jobseekers allowance and (b) who are receiving the maximum child tax credit. [85168] Malcolm Wicks: The discretionary Social Fund provides grants and loans to help some of the neediest people in our society manage a wide range of unexpected or occasional costs. Around 1.5 million community care grants and budgeting loans were made last year to people with the lowest incomes, receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseekers Allowance. We have taken the view that access to the discretionary Fund should not be extended to people with higher incomes as such help would be poorly targeted and potentially very costly. We continue to keep all aspects of the Fund under review.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 85168; 396 c1005W;396 c1003W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Applications Community care grants Jobseeker's allowance Grants Incapacity benefit Low incomes Recipients Loans Social security benefits Social Fund Budgeting loans
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk