Child benefit is payable in respect of all children up to age 16 and up to age 19 in respect of children who are in full-time education or physically or mentally handicapped. Child benefit is payable at double the normal rate for each child where three or more children are born together.
In recognition of the significant additional costs involved for parents of twins, I made provision in the 1996 budget for increasing the grant in respect of the birth of twins from £200 to £500 and for the introduction of a new grant of £500 which is payable on the twins reaching the ages of four and 12. While these improvements were announced in the context of this year's budget, they were backdated to apply to all new born twins and those reaching the ages of four and 12, respectively, on or after 1 January 1996. To date, over 1,400 families have benefited at a cost of almost £700,000.
In addition to the improved grants, the monthly rates of child benefit have been increased to £29 for the first two children and £34 for the third and subsequent children. When taken together with the increases provided for in the 1995 budget, these rates represent an increase of 45 per cent in the rate payable for the first two children and 36 per cent in the higher rate payable in respect of other children.
Assistance with back to school expenses is also provided under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered by the health boards and funded by my Department. This year, I increased the back to school clothing and footwear allowance to £43 in respect of children from two to 11 years of age and £58 in respect of qualified children from 12 to 22 years of age. This allowance benefits some 114,000 families with 270,000 children.
I will be considering further improvements in the system of child income support in the context of formulating proposals for next year's budget.