Social Security Benefits: Employment

Mr. Rooney
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the better off in work credit to be piloted by Jobcentre Plus is planned to take account of the cost of school meals in determining whether a claimant is better off in work.

Mr. Timms
The introduction of our new better off in work credit (BWC) will allow us to assure qualifying customers that if they move into full-time employment their income from work, including in-work benefits, will be at least £25 a week more than the income they received from out of work benefits.

No additional costs incurred by the movement into work, including the cost of school meals, will be taken into account in calculating whether a customer qualifies for the BWC.