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Disability Benefits
Mr. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many requests for revisions of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance were not dealt with within the target time for clearance over the period October 1999 to June 2000; [132062]
- (2) how many renewal claims for Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance were not dealt with within the target time for clearance over the period October 1999 to June 2000. [132061]
Mr. Bayley [holding answer Monday 24 July 2000]: I will write to the hon. Member in mid August.
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefit claimants in Derbyshire have had their benefits reduced or eliminated as a result of the advice of examining medical practitioners in each of the last five years. [133552]
Angela Eagle: The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Mark Todd, dated 28 July 2000:
- The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many benefit claimants in Derbyshire have had their benefits reduced or eliminated as a result of the advice of examining medical practitioners in each of the last five years.
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- The information available is only statistically viable for Incapacity benefit claims because the data collected for other benefits is only based on a 5 per cent. sample of claims made. Details of the Incapacity Benefit claims are shown below.
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| 1 March 1998 to 28 February 1999 | 1,400 |
| 1 March 1999 to 29 February 2000 | 1,400 |
Unfortunately at the time of writing, statistics showing the claims reduced or disallowed following referral to Medical Services, are only available for the last two years. I will write to you again when the remaining data are obtained from our statisticians.
Long-term Care
Sir Peter Emery: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what basis an elderly wife in a residential care home and suffering from Alzheimer's disease can claim Income Support; [132487]
- (2) for what reason the amount of a husband's capital is taken into account when an elderly wife in long-term care and suffering from Alzheimer's disease claims Income Support. [132488]
Mr. Bayley: A wife in a residential care home can claim Income Support in her own right. In these circumstances, her income and capital is treated separately from her husband's, but he may be asked to contribute to the upkeep of his wife to the extent that he can afford to do so through the payment of maintenance.
Benefit Over Payments
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency claimants were overpaid (a) benefit and (b) income support in each of the last 12 months; how many of these claimants have repaid that (i) benefit and (ii) income support in full; how much (x) benefit and (y) income support was overpaid in each of the last 12 months; how much of this (1) benefit and (2) income support was recovered from claimants; what estimate he has made of the annual administrative costs of recovering unpaid (A) benefit and (B) income support per claimant; and how much was spent by the Benefits Agency recovering overpaid (I) benefit and (II) income support in each of the last 12 months. [132286]
Angela Eagle: Administration of benefits and recovery of overpayments is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Alexis Cleveland. She will write to the hon. Member shortly.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 27 July 2000:
- The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your recent questions asking how many Benefits Agency claimants were overpaid (a) benefit and (b) income support in each of the last 12 months; how many of these claimants have repaid that (i) benefit and (ii) income support in full; how much (x) benefit and (y) income support was overpaid in each of the last 12 months; and how much of this (1) benefit and (2) income support was recovered from claimants; what estimate he has made of the annual administrative costs of recovering unpaid (A) benefit and (B) income support per claimant; and how much was spent by the Benefits Agency recovering overpaid (I) and (II) income support in each of the last 12 months.
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- We do not capture specific information on the number of claimants that have been overpaid or have repaid overpayments.
- The Benefits Agency pays out around £1 billion in Income Support and almost £7 billion in all benefits each month.
- Recoverable overpayments account for about 1.5 per cent. and 0.4 per cent. of the totals respectively. Non recoverable overpayments account for around 0.55 per cent. and 0.1 per cent.
- Recoveries are currently running at around two thirds of this total for income support and a half of total overpayments.
- The Agency spent £60 million recovering overpayments in the period June 1999 to May 2000. We do not keep information breaking this down by benefit or by the number of overpayments recovered.
- I hope this is helpful.
Benefits (Ribble Valley)
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Ribble Valley (a) were eligible for, (b) claimed and (c) applied for social security benefits in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by type of benefit. [132726]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 26 July 2000]: The administration of Social Security benefits is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Alexis Cleveland, she will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 27 July 2000:
- The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in Ribble Valley (a) were eligible for, (b) claimed and (c) applied for social security benefits in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by type of benefit.
- The information requested is not available for all social security benefits and where partially available it is not necessarily in the requested format. The information that is available is the number of claimants receiving specific benefits and is provided in the attached tables.
- I hope this is helpful.
- Income Support claimants in Ribble Valley Parliamentary Constituency
- From May 1999 to February 2000: 14.5 thousand customers
- Notes:
- 1. Sample size 5%, therefore subject to sampling error.
- Source:
- Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 1999 to February 2000
- Jobseekers Allowance claimants in Ribble Valley Parliamentary Constituency
- From August 1999 to February 2000: 1.4 thousand customers
- Notes:
- 1. Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide to the current situation only.
- 2. Figures may include 'nil' benefit cases.
- 3. Figures from May 1999 are not available.
- Source:
- Jobseekers Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, August 1999 to February 2000.
- Disability Living Allowance in Ribble Valley Parliamentary Constituency
- From February 1999 to November 1999: 9.91 thousand customers
- Note:
- 1. Figures based on 5% sample sizes are subject to sampling error.
- Source:
- DSS Information Centre: 5% sample & 100% data.
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| Number of customers from May 1999 to February 2000 | |
|---|---|
| Incapacity Benefit Short Term (low) | 0.6 |
| Incapacity Benefit Short Term (high) | 0.7 |
| Incapacity Benefit Long Term | 8.2 |
| Incapacity Benefit Credits Only | 2.3 |
| Severe Disablement Allowance | 3.2 |
Notes:
1. Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide to the current situation only.
2. Figures will exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
Source:
Benefit Computer System
Maternity Allowance in Ribble Valley Parliamentary Constituency
Parliamentary Constituency figures are not available. Figures for Ribble Valley Local Authority show Nil for all four quarters.
Source:
Benefit Computer System
Child Benefit in Ribble Valley Parliamentary Constituency
As at 15 August 1999 there were 11,477 families in receipt of Child Benefit.
Note:
100% scan, therefore figure is unrounded.
Source:
Child Benefit Computer System
Figures are not available for Retirement Pension, War Pension, Widows Benefit, and Invalid Care Allowance. Information is not collated in the format requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Attendance Allowance in Ribble Valley Parliamentary Constituency
From February 1999 to November 1999: 8.393 thousand customers
Note:
Figures based on 5% sample sizes are subject to sampling error.
Source:
DSS Information Centre: 5% sample & 100% data.
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit figures are shown at Local Authority level, as Parliamentary Constituency breakdown is not available for these benefits.
Housing Benefit in Ribble Valley Local Authority
From February 1999 to November 1999: 5.81 thousand customers
The Total and & renewal Housing Benefit claims in Ribble Valley Local Authority for April 1998 to March 1999 was 2,310
Note:
1. Claimant figures have been rounded to the nearest ten cases.
Source:
Housing Benefit Management Information System, Quarterly 100% caseload stock count taken on the second Thursday in February, May August, & November 1999. Housing Benefit Management Information System Quarterly Administration Returns for 1998/99.
Council Tax Benefit in Ribble Valley Local Authority
From February 1999 to November 1999: 8.81 thousand customers
The Total new & renewal Council Tax Benefit claims in Ribble Valley Local Authority for April 1998 to March 1999 was 3,530.
Note:
1. Claimant figures have been rounded to the nearest ten cases.
28 Jul 2000 : Column: 1074W
Source:
Housing Benefit Management Information System, Quarterly 100% caseload stock count taken on the second Thursday in February, May August & November 1999. Housing Benefit Management Information System Quarterly Administration Returns for 1998/99.
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