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15 Dec 2008 : Column 87WS

Work and Pensions

Benefit Uprating

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (James Purnell): The proposed rates of benefit for 2009 are set out in the table below. The annual uprating of benefits will take place for state pension and most other benefits in the first full week of the tax year. In 2009, this will be the week beginning 6 April. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland proposes to introduce similar changes for Northern Ireland.


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15 Dec 2008 : Column 100WS
RatesRates
(Weekly rates unless otherwise shown)20082009

Attendance Allowance

higher rate

67.00

70.35

lower rate

44.85

47.10

Carer's Allowance

50.55

53.10

Council Tax Benefit

Personal allowances

Single

18 to 24

47.95

50.95

25 or over

60.50

64.30

entitled to main phase ESA

60.50

64.30

lone parent

60.50

64.30

couple

94.95

100.95

dependent children

52.59

56.11

pensioner

single/lone parent- 60-64

124.05

130.00

Couple - one or both 60-64

189.35

198.45

single/lone parent - 65 and over

143.80

150.40

couple - one or both 65 and over

215.50

225.50

Premiums

family

16.75

17.30

family (lone parent rate)

22.20

22.20

child under 1

10.50

10.50

disability

single

25.85

27.50

couple

36.85

39.15

enhanced disability

single

12.60

13.40

disabled child

19.60

20.65

couple

18.15

19.30

severe disability

single

50.35

52.85

couple (lower rate)

50.35

52.85

couple (higher rate)

100.70

105.70

disabled child

48.72

51.24

carer

27.75

29.50

ESA components

work-related activity

24.00

25.50

support

29.00

30.85

Alternative maximum Council Tax Benefit

second adult getting IS, JSA(IB), ESA(IR) or Pension Credit

25% of Council Tax

25% of Council Tax

first adult(s) student(s)

100% of Council Tax

100% of Council Tax

second adult's gross income

under £175.00

15% of Council Tax

15% of Council Tax

£175.00 to £227.99

7.5% of Council Tax

7.5% of Council Tax

CAPITAL LIMITSrules common to Income Support, income- based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit unless stated otherwise.

upper limit

16000.00

16000.00

upper limit - Pension Credit and HB/CTB guarantee credit

No limit

No limit

amount disregarded

6000.00

6000.00

child disregard (not Pension Credit)

3000.00

3000.00

amt disregarded (living in RC/NH)

10000.00

10000.00

Tariff Income—£1 for every £250, or part thereof, between the amount of capital disregarded and the capital upper limit.

Tariff income - Pension Credit and HB/CTB where claimant or partner is aged 60 or over. £1 for every £500, or part thereof, between the amount of capital disregarded and the capital upper limit.

Deductions—rules common to Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance,Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit unless stated otherwise.

Non-dependant deductions from rent rebates and allowances and from IS, JSA(IB), ESA(IR) and Pension Credit

aged 25 and over in receipt of IS and JSA(IB), in receipt of main phase ESA(IR), aged 18 or over and not in remunerative work.

7.40

7.40

aged 18 or over and in remunerative work

gross income: less than £120.00

7.40

7.40

gross income: £120 to £177.99

17.00

17.00

gross income: £178 to £230.99

23.35

23.35

gross income: £231 to £305.99

38.20

38.20

gross income: £306 to £381.99

43.50

43.50

gross income: £382 and above

47.75

47.75

Non-dependant deductions from council tax benefit

aged 18 or over and in remunerative work

gross income: £382 or more

6.95

6.95

gross income: £306 - £381.99

5.80

5.80

gross income: £178 - £305.99

4.60

4.60

gross income less than £178

2.30

2.30

others, aged 18 or over

2.30

2.30

Deductions from housing benefit

service charges for fuel

heating

15.45

21.55

hot water

1.80

2.50

lighting

1.25

1.75

cooking

1.80

2.50

Amount ineligible for meals

three or more meals a day

single claimant

21.60

22.95

each person in family aged 16 or over

21.60

22.95

each child under 16

10.90

11.60

less than three meals a day

single claimant

14.35

15.25

each person in family aged 16 or over

14.35

15.25

each child under 16

7.20

7.65

breakfast only - claimant and each member of the family

2.65

2.80

Amount for personal expenses (not HB/CTB)

21.15

21.90

Third party deductions from IS, JSA(IB), ESA(IR) and Pension Credit for;

arrears of housing, fuel and water costs

3.05

3.25

council tax etc. and deductions for ELDS and ILS.

child support, contribution towards

maintenance (CTM)

standard deduction

6.10

6.50

lower deduction

3.05

3.25

arrears of Community Charge

court order against claimant

3.05

3.25

court order against couple

4.75

5.05

fine or compensation order

standard rate

5.00

5.00

lower rate

3.05

3.25

Maximum deduction rates for recovery of overpayments (not CTB/JSA(C)/ESA(C))

ordinary overpayments

9.15

9.75

where claimant convicted of fraud

12.00

12.80

Deductions from JSA(C) and ESA(C)

Arrears of Comm. Charge, Council Tax, fines and overpayment recovery

Age 16 — 24

15.98

16.98

Age 25 +

20.16

21.43

Maximum deduction for arrears of Child Maintenance (CTM)

Age 16 — 24

15.98

16.98

Age 25 +

20.16

21.43

Disregards

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

Earnings disregards

standard (single claimant)

5.00

5.00

Couple

10.00

10.00

higher (special occupations/circumstances)

20.00

20.00

lone parent

25.00

25.00

childcare charges

175.00

175.00

childcare charges (2 or more children)

300.00

300.00

Other Income disregards

adult maintenance disregard

15.00

15.00

war disablement pension and war widows pension

10.00

10.00

widowed mothers/parents allowance

15.00

15.00

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

10.00

10.00

student loan

10.00

10.00

student's covenanted income

5.00

5.00

income from boarders (plus 50% of the balance)

20.00

20.00

additional earnings disregard

16.05

16.85

income from subtenants

20.00

20.00

Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit

Earnings disregards

standard (single claimant)

5.00

5.00

couple

10.00

10.00

higher (special occupations/circumstances)

20.00

20.00

Other Income disregards

war disablement pension and war widows pension

10.00

10.00

widowed mothers/parents allowance

10.00

10.00

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

10.00

10.00

student loan (not Pension Credit)

10.00

10.00

student's covenanted income (not Pension Credit)

5.00

5.00

income from boarders (plus 50% of the balance)

20.00

20.00

income from subtenants

20.00

20.00

Dependency Increases

Adult dependency increases for spouse or person looking after children - payable with;

State Pension on own insurance.

54.35

57.05

Long-term Incapacity Benefit and Unemployability Supplement.

50.55

53.10

Severe Disablement Allowance.

30.40

31.90

Carers Allowance.

30.20

31.70

short-term Incapacity Benefit (over state pension age).

48.65

51.10

Maternity Allowance and short-term Incapacity Benefit.

39.40

41.35

Child Dependency Increases - payable with; State Pension; Widowed Mothers/Parents Allowance; short-term Incapacity benefit — higher rate or over state pension age; long-term Incapacity Benefit; Carer's Allowance; Severe Disablement Allowance; Industrial Death Benefit (higher rate); Unemployability Supplement.

11.35

11.35

Note - The rate of child dependency increase is adjusted where it is payable for the eldest child for whom child benefit is also paid. The weekly rate in such cases is reduced by the difference (less £3.65) between the ChB rates for the eldest and subsequent children.

Disability Living Allowance

Care Component

Highest

67.00

70.35

Middle

44.85

47.10

Lowest

17.75

18.65

Mobility Component

Higher

46.75

49.10

Lower

17.75

18.65

Employment and Support Allowance

Personal Allowances

under 25

47.95

50.95

25 or over

60.50

64.30

lone parent

under 18

47.95

50.95

18 or over

60.50

64.30

Couple

both under 18

47.95

50.95

both under 18 with child

72.35

76.90

both under 18 (main phase)

60.50

64.30

both under 18 with child (main phase)

94.95

100.95

One 18 or over, one under 18

94.95

100.95

both over 18

94.95

100.95

claimant under 25, partner under 18

47.95

50.95

claimant 25 or over, partner under 18

60.50

64.30

claimant (main phase), partner under 18

60.50

64.30

Premiums

enhanced disability

single

12.60

13.40

couple

18.15

19.30

severe disability

single

50.35

52.85

couple (lower rate)

50.35

52.85

couple (higher rate)

100.70

105.70

carer

27.75

29.50

pensioner

single with WRAC

39.55

40.20

single with support component

34.55

34.85

single with no component

63.55

65.70

couple with WRAC

70.40

72.00

couple with support component

65.40

66.65

couple with no component

94.40

97.50

Components

Work-related Activity

24.00

25.50

Support

29.00

30.85

Earnings Rules

Carers Allowance

95.00

95.00

Limit of earnings from councillor's allowance

88.50

92.00

Permitted work earnings limit - higher

88.50

92.00

Permitted work earnings limit - lower

20.00

20.00

Industrial injuries unemployability supplement permitted earnings level (annual amount)

4602.00

4784.00

Earnings level at which adult dependency (ADI) increases are affected with short-term incapacity benefit where claimant is:

(a) under state pension age

39.40

41.35

(b) over state pension age

48.65

51.10

maternity allowance

39.40

41.35

state pension, long term incapacity benefit,

severe disablement allowance; unemployability supplement - payable when dependant

(a) is living with claimant

60.50

64.30

(b) still qualifies for the tapered earnings rule

45.09

45.09

Earnings level at which ADI is affected when dependant is not living with claimant;

State pension.

54.35

57.05

Long-term incapacity benefit and unemployability supplement.

50.55

53.10

Severe disablement allowance.

30.40

31.90

Carers allowance

30.20

31.70

Earnings level at which child dependency increases are affected

for first child

185.00

195.00

additional amount for each subsequent child

25.00

26.00

Pension income threshold for incapacity benefit

85.00

85.00

Housing Benefit

Personal allowances

single

16 to 24

47.95

50.95

25 or over

60.50

64.30

entitled to main phase ESA

60.50

64.30

lone parent

under 18

47.95

50.95

18 or over

60.50

64.30

entitled to main phase ESA

60.50

64.30

couple

both under 18

72.35

76.90

one or both 18 or over

94.95

100.95

claimant entitled to main phase ESA

94.95

100.95

dependent children

52.59

56.11

pensioner

single/lone parent - 60 - 64

124.05

130.00

couple - one or both 60 - 64

189.35

198.45

single/lone parent - 65 and over

143.80

150.40

couple - one or both 65 and over

215.50

225.50

Premiums

family

16.75

17.30

family (lone parent rate)

22.20

22.20

child under 1

10.50

10.50

disability

single

25.85

27.50

couple

36.85

39.15

enhanced disability

single

12.60

13.40

disabled child

19.60

20.65

couple

18.15

19.30

severe disability

single

50.35

52.85

couple (lower rate)

50.35

52.85

couple (higher rate)

100.70

105.70

disabled child

48.72

51.24

carer

27.75

29.50

ESA components

work-related activity

24.00

25.50

support

29.00

30.85

Incapacity Benefit

Long-term Incapacity Benefit

84.50

89.80

Short-term Incapacity Benefit (under state pension age)

lower rate

63.75

67.75

higher rate

75.40

80.15

Short-term Incapacity Benefit (over state pension age)

lower rate

81.10

86.20

higher rate

84.50

89.80

Increase of Long-term Incapacity Benefit for age

higher rate

17.75

15.65

lower rate

8.90

6.55

Invalidity Allowance (Transitional)

higher rate

17.75

15.65

middle rate

11.40

9.10

lower rate

5.70

5.35

Income Support

Personal Allowances

single

under 25

47.95

50.95

25 or over

60.50

64.30

lone parent

under 18

47.95

50.95

18 or over

60.50

64.30

couple

both under 18

47.95

50.95

both under 18 - higher rate

72.35

76.90

one under 18, one under 25

47.95

50.95

one under 18, one 25 and over

60.50

64.30

both 18 or over

94.95

100.95

dependent children

52.59

56.11

Premiums

family / lone parent

16.75

17.30

pensioner (applies to couples only)

94.40

97.50

disability

single

25.85

27.50

couple

36.85

39.15

enhanced disability

single

12.60

13.40

disabled child

19.60

20.65

couple

18.15

19.30

severe disability

single

50.35

52.85

couple (lower rate)

50.35

52.85

couple (higher rate)

100.70

105.70

disabled child

48.72

51.24

carer

27.75

29.50

Relevant sum for strikers

32.50

34.50

Industrial Death Benefit

Widow's pension

higher rate

90.70

95.25

lower rate

27.21

28.58

Widower's pension

90.70

95.25

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

18 and over, or under 18 with dependants

100%

136.80

143.60

90%

123.12

129.24

80%

109.44

114.88

70%

95.76

100.52

60%

82.08

86.16

50%

68.40

71.80

40%

54.72

57.44

30%

41.04

43.08

20%

27.36

28.72

Under 18

100%

83.85

88.05

90%

75.47

79.25

80%

67.08

70.44

70%

58.70

61.64

60%

50.31

52.83

50%

41.93

44.03

40%

33.54

35.22

30%

25.16

26.42

20%

16.77

17.61

Maximum life gratuity (lump sum)

9090.00

9540.00

Unemployability Supplement

84.50

88.75

increase for early incapacity

higher rate

17.75

18.65

middle rate

11.40

12.00

lower rate

5.70

6.00

Maximum reduced earnings allowance

54.72

57.44

Maximum retirement allowance

13.68

14.36

Constant attendance allowance

exceptional rate

109.60

115.00

intermediate rate

82.20

86.25

normal maximum rate

54.80

57.50

part-time rate

27.40

28.75

Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

54.80

57.50

Jobseeker's Allowance

Contribution based JSA - Personal rates

under 25

47.95

50.95

25 or over

60.50

64.30

Income-based JSA - personal allowances

under 25

47.95

50.95

25 or over

60.50

64.30

lone parent

under 18

47.95

50.95

18 or over

60.50

64.30

Couple

both under 18

47.95

50.95

both under 18 - higher rate

72.35

76.90

one under 18, one under 25

47.95

50.95

one under 18, one 25 and over

60.50

64.30

both 18 or over

94.95

100.95

dependent children

52.59

56.11

Premiums

family/lone parent

16.75

17.30

Pensioner

single

63.55

65.70

couple

94.40

97.50

disability

single

25.85

27.50

couple

36.85

39.15

enhanced disability

single

12.60

13.40

disabled child

19.60

20.65

couple

18.15

19.30

severe disability

single

50.35

52.85

couple (lower rate)

50.35

52.85

couple (higher rate)

100.70

105.70

disabled child

48.72

51.24

carer

27.75

29.50

Prescribed sum for strikers

32.50

34.50

Maternity Allowance

Standard rate

117.18

123.06

MA threshold

30.00

30.00

Pension Credit

Standard minimum guarantee

single

124.05

130.00

couple

189.35

198.45

Additional amount for severe disability

Single

50.35

52.85

couple (one qualifies)

50.35

52.85

couple (both qualify)

100.70

105.70

Additional amount for carers

27.75

29.50

Savings credit

threshold — single

91.20

96.00

threshold - couple

145.80

153.40

maximum — single

19.71

20.40

maximum - couple

26.13

27.03

Amount for claimant and first spouse in polygamous marriage

189.35

198.45

Additional amount for additional spouse

65.30

68.45

Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis, and Miscellaneous Diseases Scheme and the Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation)

Total disablement allowance and major incapacity

allowance (maximum)

136.80

143.60

Partial disablement allowance

50.55

53.10

Unemployability supplement

84.50

88.75

increases for early incapacity -

higher rate

17.75

18.65

middle rate

11.40

12.00

lower rate

5.70

6.00

Constant attendance allowance

exceptional rate

109.60

115.00

intermediate rate

82.20

86.25

normal maximum rate

54.80

57.50

part-time rate

27.40

28.75

Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

54.80

57.50

Lesser incapacity allowance

maximum rate of allowance

50.55

53.10

based on loss of earnings over

67.00

70.35

State Pension

Category A or B

90.70

95.25

Category B (lower) - husband's insurance

54.35

57.05

Category C or D - non-contributory

54.35

57.05

Category C (lower) - non-contributory

32.50

34.15

Additional pension

Increase by:

5.0%

Increments to:-

Basic pension

Increase by:

5.0%

Additional pension

Increase by:

5.0%

Graduated Retirement Benefit (GRB)

Increase by:

5.0%

Inheritable lump sum

Increase by:

5.0%

Contracted-out Deduction from AP in respect of

Nil

pre-April 1988 contracted-out earnings

Contracted-out Deduction from AP in respect of

contracted-out earnings from April 1988 to 1997

Increase by:

3.0%

Graduated Retirement Benefit (unit)

0.1098

0.1153

Graduated Retirement Benefit (Inherited)

Increase by:

5.0%

Addition at age 80

0.25

0.25

Severe Disablement Allowance

Basic rate

51.05

57.45

Age-related addition (from Dec 90)

Higher rate

17.75

15.65

Middle rate

11.40

9.10

Lower rate

5.70

5.35

Statutory Adoption Pay

Earnings threshold

90.00

95.00

Standard Rate

117.18

123.06

Statutory Maternity Pay

Earnings threshold

90.00

95.00

Standard rate

117.18

123.06

Statutory Paternity Pay

Earnings threshold

90.00

95.00

Standard Rate

117.18

123.06

Statutory Sick Pay

Earnings threshold

90.00

95.00

Standard rate

75.40

79.15

Widow's Benefit

Widowed mother's allowance

90.70

95.25

Widow's pension

standard rate

90.70

95.25

age-related

age 54 (49)

84.35

88.58

53 (48)

78.00

81.92

52 (47)

71.65

75.25

51 (46)

65.30

68.58

50 (45)

58.96

61.91

49 (44)

52.61

55.25

48 (43)

46.26

48.58

47 (42)

39.91

41.91

46 (41)

33.56

35.24

45 (40)

27.21

28.58

Note: For deaths occurring before 11 April 1988 refer to age-points shown in brackets.

Bereavement Benefit

Bereavement payment (lump sum)

2000.00

2000.00

Widowed parent's allowance

90.70

95.25

Bereavement Allowance

standard rate

90.70

95.25

age-related

age 54

84.35

88.58

53

78.00

81.92

52

71.65

75.25

51

65.30

68.58

50

58.96

61.91

49

52.61

55.25

48

46.26

48.58

47

39.91

41.91

46

33.56

35.24

45

27.21

28.58


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