Social Welfare Bill, 1982

Public bill · Government · Presented

The Social Welfare Bill, 1982 would increase most social welfare payments, children’s allowances and occupational injury benefits, generally from April 1982. It would raise many weekly payments by about 25%, increase children’s allowances to £11.25 for each of the first five children and £17.50 for each additional child, and increase the maximum death grant from £75 to £100. It would also make means tests more generous, allow some married women living apart from and not mainly supported by their husbands to claim unemployment assistance, and extend a carer’s allowance to certain invalidity pensioners under 66. To help fund the changes, employee and employer social insurance contributions and the earnings limit for contributions would rise.

Last updated 10 June 2020