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Elderly People (Income Support)
Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the elderly population in each of the member countries of the European Union receives (i) all and (ii) part of their income from means-tested social assistance and income support schemes. [3048]
Mr. Heald: Such information as is available is contained in table 2.8 at page 42 of "Social Assistance in OECD Countries: Synthesis Report"--York university, 1996, a copy of which is available in the Library.
Benefits Agency (Seaham and Peterlee)
Mr. Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff were employed in the Seaham and Peterlee Benefits Agency offices in (a) 1993, (b) 1994, (c) 1995 and (d) at the latest available date. [3387]
Mr. Roger Evans: This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Cummings, dated 18 November 1996:
Figures are provisional and subject to change.
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The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many staff were employed in the Seaham and Peterlee Benefits Agency offices in (a) 1993, (b) 1994, (c) 1995 and (d) at the latest available date.
The information requested is shown in the table below and is based on the position at the dates shown.
Peterlee Seaham 1 April 1993 111.0 47.0
1 April 1994 111.4 45.0
1 April 1995 104.5 44
1 April 1996 92.0 37.0
1 November 1996 92.0 37.0
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Invalid Care Allowance
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claimants entitled to invalid care allowance currently receive payment of the invalid care allowance (a) in Lancashire and (b) in the United Kingdom; [3793]
- (2) how many claimants entitled to invalid care allowance have an underlying entitlement and receive no payment of invalid care allowance (a) in Lancashire and (b) in the United Kingdom; [3794]
(3) how many claimants of invalid care allowance are currently entitled to invalid care allowance (a) in Lancashire and (b) in the United Kingdom. [3792]
Mr. Burt: As of 11 November 1996, 353,580 people in Great Britain were entitled to payment of invalid care allowance. It is estimated that less than 0.1 per cent. of these have had payment of their benefit suspended while changes of circumstances, which may affect entitlement, are investigated. Figures for Lancashire are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information on underlying entitlement for claimants in Great Britain and in Lancashire is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Responsibility for social security matters in Northern Ireland with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Sir Dudley Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security from which bodies the Child Support Agency is seeking the address of Mr. X, whose name has been sent him. [4205]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell:
The sources the agency can use in seeking to establish the addresses of clients are governed by child support legislation. Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive, will write separately to the hon. Member with details of this case.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the jobseeker's allowance. [4473]
Mr. Roger Evans:
We have no plans to review the jobseeker's allowance. However, we have in place a long-term programme of monitoring and evaluation to measure whether jobseeker's allowance is achieving its policy objectives. The Benefits Agency and Employment Service have set up an extensive monitoring programme to assess implementation and performance of the new allowance with frequent reports to managers.
Mr. Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the procedures for determining whether an individual is capable of work under the jobseeker's allowance; and what account is taken of the local general practitioner's opinion. [4474]
Mr. Evans:
Where there are doubts about a person's capacity for work under jobseeker's allowance, the case is referred to the adjudication officer. Whether a person is capable or incapable of work is determined under the
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same provisions that apply to incapacity benefit. A medical certificate issued by a person's own general practitioner is normally accepted as evidence of incapacity until such time as an assessment has been made under the all work incapacity test.
Under the short-term sickness provision in jobseeker's allowance, a person may be treated as capable of work for up to two weeks on two occasions in any one jobseeking period or in each 12 months where the jobseeking period lasts 12 months or more. A general practitioner's statement is not required for the purpose of determining whether these provisions apply.
Mr. Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the appeals procedure in respect of the jobseeker's allowance. [4475]
Mr. Evans:
Full details of the Government's proposals for new appeals arrangements are set out in the Green Paper, "Improving decision making and appeals in Social Security", Cm 3328 which was published on July 23. The proposals cover all social security benefits including jobseeker's allowance, child support maintenance, war pensions and Contributions Agency rulings.
The consultation period ended on 18 October, and the responses received are currently being independently analysed. We plan to publish the results of the consultation exercise early in the new year, and I will ensure that a copy is placed in the Library. Final decisions on the best way forward will be taken in the light of all the representations received.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will place in the Library a draft of the form which benefit claimants have been required to use for lodging appeals since 21 October; and when the form itself will be available; [4799]
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(3) by what means he will monitor the effects of the benefit regulations which came into force on 21 October, with particular reference to (a) the number of oral hearings, and (b) the outcome of appeals to (i) social security, (ii) disability, (iii) medical and (iv) child support appeal tribunals. [4802]
Mr. Roger Evans:
A copy of the new version of leaflet NI 246 "How to Appeal", including the form for appeal, has today been placed in the Library. This version replaces the April 1996 version, a copy of which was previously placed in the Library. Distribution of the new version to all Benefits Agency and Employment Service offices has now commenced and is scheduled for completion by the end of this week.
All Benefits Agency and independent tribunal service offices have clear guidance that all appeals lodged by letter or on the old print of the appeal form are acceptable, so long as they contain the information required. If sufficient information is not provided, the independent tribunal service will write to the appellant for the missing information. In these cases, the time limit for appealing may be extended by up to 14 days. After the new form is available, any appeal lodged in the form of a letter will still be acceptable, with the same proviso as above, as the regulations make clear.
The effects of the new regulations will be monitored. This will include using existing statistical information collected regularly on the outcome of appeals, by benefit, broken down between: hearings attended by the appellant and/or his representative and hearings not attended by either. This information will be based, of course, only on those appeals which proceed to a hearing; excluded will be appeals which are superseded or withdrawn, struck out or ruled out of jurisdiction.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support appeals were heard by social security appeal tribunals in each of the last four quarters for which information is available; how many and what percentage were decided in the appellant's favour where the appellant (a) attended the hearing but was not represented, (b) was represented but did not attend, (c) attended and was represented and (d) did not attend and was not represented. [4801]
Mr. Evans:
The information requested is contained in the table.
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(2) what instructions he has issued to ensure that benefit appeals which do not comply with the requirement to use an approved form because the form is not yet available are admitted for hearing by tribunals; [4800]
| March 1995 | June 1995 | September 1995 | December 1995 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number heard and decided | 11,674 | 9,583 | 10,720 | 5,920 |
| Total number decided in appellants favour and percentage | 6,033 (51) | 3,777 (39) | 3,841 (35) | 3,057 (51) |
| Decision in appellants favour: appellant only attended | ||||
| Number decided | 1,159 | 1,328 | 1,424 | 1,170 |
| Percentage success | 43 | 45 | 43 | 43 |
| Decision in appellants favour: representative only attended | ||||
| Number decided | 1,983 | 480 | 257 | 209 |
| Percentage success | 78 | 66 | 49 | 48 |
| Decision in appellants favour: appellant and representative attended | ||||
| Number decided | 1,456 | 1,473 | 1,533 | 1,156 |
| Percentage success | 68 | 65 | 65 | 63 |
| Decision in appellants favour: no attendance | ||||
| Number decided | 1,435 | 496 | 627 | 522 |
| Percentage success | 32 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
Source:
"Quarterly Social Security Appeal Tribunal Statistics" published by analytical services division.
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