Written question asked by Lord Field of Birkenhead (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 September 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 October 2004. It was answered by Maria Eagle (Labour) on Monday, 4 October 2004 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, whether the back to work bonus of £1,000 is payable to unemployed people starting up their own business.

Answer: Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the back to work bonus of £1,000 is payable to unemployed people starting up their own business. [188323] Maria Eagle: The Back to Work Bonus is payable to all customers aged under 60 in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support and in part time work. This includes people who are moving off benefit in order to start their own business. To be eligible to apply for a Back to Work Bonus when moving into work that takes them off benefit, a person must have met the qualifying conditions and have been working part time and declaring their earnings. Half of the declared earnings after the appropriate disregard has been applied are accrued. The minimum that can be paid is £5 and the maximum £1,000. The amount the customer receives is dependant on the amount of earnings that has accrued from their part time work.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 424 c1797W;424 c1795W; 188323
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Benefits rules Eligibility Part-time employment Unemployed people Self-employed Back to work bonus scheme
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk