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1240/5(3878)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 13th MAY 2008
Question
- W i ll the Minister confirm that the additional benefits attached to meeting the needsand costs of a disabled person inHousehold A givenin his answertoquestion3845on 29th April, will be completely withdrawn when the annualhouseholdincome exceeds £27,000?
Answer
The Deputy does not make it clear from his question as to the identity of household A.
On the assumption that the household that he is referring to is the household referred to in h(1) of the answer given on 29th April, namely
married couple, living in a one-bedroom states flat. One individual is disabled and receives the level 3 personal care component. The partner cares for the disabled person (rent of £143.50 pw)
Then
If the couple had an unearned income of up to £27,000 per annum (approx £520 pw), they would receive some Income Support.
If their income was all earned income they would be able to earn up to £30,600 per annum (approx £590 pw) and receive some Income Support.
Above these income levels, the couple would not receive Income Support, although if they were in receipt of benefits replaced by Income Support, they would receive protected payments for a number of years.
For comparison purposes, an individual working at the minimum wage for 40 hours per week would earn £232 per week (£12,064 pa). The average full time wage in Jersey is £580 per week or £30,160 per annum.
Question
- C a n the Minister inform membershowmanyhouseholds will seesuchsupportwithdrawn? Answer
There are 15 households, comprising a working age couple with one receiving the highest level personal care component living in rented accommodation and the other acting as a full time carer. Of these 3 have a total household income in excess of £27,000 per annum and are in receipt of transitional support for at least 4 years.
Question
- W i ll the Minister explain why Invalid Care Allowancehas been includedin the income calculation for incomeSupport?
Answer
Invalid care allowance has been included in the income calculations for income support in the same way as all other sources of income, including pensions and other contributory benefits. One of the issues identified with the previous system was the inconsistent treatment of income between different benefits. Under income support, all household income after disregards (with the exception of charitable income) is included in the calculation of benefit.