asked the Minister for Social Welfare the various categories of social welfare payments; the estimated cost in (a) 1989 and (b) annually of increases under each heading for each payment of (1) each 1 per cent (2) each £1 per week increase in the case of weekly payments and (3) each £1 per month increase in the case of monthly payments.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following tables:
(a) Estimated cost in 1989
(1) |
(2) |
|
Category of Social Welfare payment |
1 per cent increase |
£1 increase |
£ million |
£ million |
|
Social Insurance (Weekly Payments) |
||
Invalidity pension |
0.470 |
0.670 |
Retirement pension |
0.730 |
1.010 |
Old Age contributory pension |
1.190 |
1.740 |
Widow's contributory pension and Orphan's con- tributory allowance |
1.080 |
1.920 |
Deserted Wife's benefit |
0.160 |
0.210 |
Disability benefit |
1.010 |
1.680 |
Maternity allowance |
0.010 |
0.100 |
Unemployment benefit |
1.050 |
1.720 |
Total Social Insurance |
5.700 |
9.050 |
Social Assistance (Weekly Payments) |
||
Old age and blind pensions (non-contributory) |
1.470 |
2.830 |
Widow's and Orphan's (non-contributory) pensions |
0.250 |
0.440 |
Deserted wives' allowances |
0.078 |
0.130 |
Unmarried mothers' allowances |
0.235 |
0.380 |
Prisoners wives' allowances |
0.004 |
0.010 |
Single women's allowances |
0.023 |
0.060 |
Unemployment assistance (including smallholders) |
2.200 |
3.520 |
Supplementary welfare allowance |
0.140 |
0.280 |
Monthly Payments |
||
Child benefit |
1.500 |
10.400 |
Total Social Assistance |
5.900 |
18.050 |
Occupational Injuries Insurance |
0.100 |
0.200 |
Total Insurance and Assistance |
11.700 |
27.300 |
(b) Estimated annual cost
(1) |
(2) |
|
Category of Social Welfare payment |
1 per cent increase |
£1 increase |
£ million |
£ million |
|
Social Insurance (Weekly Payments) |
||
Invalidity pension |
1.07 |
1.52 |
Retirement pension |
1.65 |
2.29 |
Old Age contributory pension |
2.69 |
3.94 |
Widow's contributory pension and Orphan's con- tributory allowance |
2.45 |
4.34 |
Deserted Wife's benefit |
0.36 |
0.48 |
Disability benefit |
2.28 |
3.80 |
Maternity allowance |
0.02 |
0.23 |
Unemployment benefit |
2.38 |
3.90 |
Total Social Insurance |
12.90 |
20.50 |
Social Assistance (Weekly Payments) |
||
Old age and blind pensions (non-contributory) |
3.31 |
6.40 |
Widow's and Orphan's (non-contributory) pensions |
0.56 |
1.00 |
Deserted wives' allowances |
0.17 |
0.29 |
Unmarried mothers' allowances |
0.53 |
0.86 |
Prisoners wives' allowances |
0.01 |
0.02 |
Single women's allowances |
0.05 |
0.14 |
Unemployment assistance (including smallholders) |
4.96 |
7.96 |
Supplementary welfare allowance |
0.31 |
0.63 |
Monthly Payments |
||
Child benefit |
2.00 |
13.90 |
Total Social Assistance |
11.90 |
31.20 |
Occupational Injuries Insurance |
0.20 |
0.50 |
Total Insurance and Assistance |
25.00 |
52.20 |
Notes: The costings for 1989 assume an operative date of late July in the case of weekly payments and an operative date of 1 April in the case of child benefit.
It has been assumed that the 1 per cent increase in weekly payments will apply to all elements of the payments including adults and child dependant rates.
The cost of the £1 increase in weekly rates has been calculated by reference to personal rates only.