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Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time taken to process a disability living allowance appeal in the Wrexham County Borough Area. [102638]
Angela Eagle: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
Between 1 January 1999 and 31 May 1999 the average time taken to process a Disability Living Allowance appeal, in the area handled by the Cardiff office of the Independent Tribunal Service, was 37.8 weeks from date of lodgement to date of tribunal. From the date the appeal was received by the Independent Tribunal Service to the date of tribunal the average time was 33.5 weeks.
20 Dec 1999 : Column: 326W
The changed structure to the decision making and appeals processes introduced by the Social Security Act 1998 were introduced for Disability Living Allowance on 18 October 1999.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the need to arrange communication support at personal adviser interviews does not delay the processing of benefit claims; [102244]
Angela Eagle:
Personal advisers in the ONE service provide help and advice on work and benefits to individuals according to their own particular circumstances. We recognise that everyone is different and needs vary from one client to another. ONE pilot offices have trained staff and special facilities to aid people with special communication needs. For example, textphone facilities are available for people with severe hearing impairment and advisers are trained in their use. The services of a qualified interpreter or lipspeaker are available to clients attending a meeting with their personal adviser. All clients, including those with communication difficulties, will be offered a prompt initial meeting in order that claims can be dealt with quickly.
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if it is his policy that, when a person wins a benefits tribunal appeal against loss or suspension of Disability Living Allowance, that benefit should be reinstated forthwith providing that an appeal has not been lodged by his Department against the decision within the permitted timescale. [102035]
Angela Eagle:
Where an appeal to the Social Security Commissioner against a Tribunal's decision is not being considered, the decision is implemented and any outstanding payments of benefit are made as quickly as possible.
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what powers his Department has to override the decision of a benefit appeals tribunal. [102034]
Angela Eagle:
Appeal tribunals are independent and the Department has no powers to override their decisions.
Under the new arrangements for hearing appeals that have just been introduced, appeal tribunals can correct procedural errors or errors on a point of law. Any party to an appeal can request that a decision be referred back to a tribunal, if they consider that an error has been made.
In addition, there is a right of appeal against a tribunal's decision on a point of law to the Social Security and Child Support Commissioners and thereafter to the higher courts.
20 Dec 1999 : Column: 327W
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many carers have received (a) invalid care allowance and (b) underlying entitlement to ICA for a full year in each year from 1978 to 1999. [103073]
Mr. Bayley:
The information is not available.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many carers have received invalid care allowance in each year since 1978. [103075]
Source:
100 per cent. download from the Appeals Service computer system.
(2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the requirement to provide properly qualified communication support for deaf claimants does not delay start-up or personal adviser interviews. [102245]
| Year (3) | Number of live cases |
|---|---|
| Invalid care allowance live load (3) | |
| 1978 | 6,137 |
| 1979 | 6,349 |
| 1980 | 6,648 |
| 1981 | 7,098 |
| 1982 | 8,005 |
| 1983 | 8,847 |
| 1984 | 9,494 |
| 1985 | 10,284 |
| 1986 | 30,587 |
| 1987 | 91,392 |
| 1988 | 109,334 |
| 1989 | 120,816 |
| 1990 | 133,912 |
| 1991 | 159,324 |
| 1992 | 188,717 |
| 1993 | 230,313 |
| 1994 | 273,901 |
| 1995 | 316,353 |
| 1996 | 357,471 |
| 1997 | 374,321 |
| 1998 | 373,267 |
| 1999(4) | 374,815 |
(3) Figures relate to 31 December
(4) Figures relate to 30 September
Source:
Analytical Services Division: 100 per cent. data
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many carers have received Invalid Care Allowance for (a) two, (b) five, (c) 10, (d) 15 and (e) 20 years since 1978. [103074]
Mr. Bayley: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.
(5) Period is 1 April 1981 to 31 December 1981.
(6) Period is 1 January 1996 to 31 March 1996 and 1 October 1996 to 31 December 1996.
(7) Period is 1 January 1999 to 30 September 1999.
Note:
Information not available prior to 1981.
Source:
Analytical Services Division: 100 per cent. data.
20 Dec 1999 : Column: 328W
| Duration | Number |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 year | 64,486 |
| Over 1 year to 2 years | 61,302 |
| Over 2 years to 5 years | 127,403 |
| Over 5 years to 10 years | 88,234 |
| Over 10 years | 32,594 |
| All durations | 374,019 |
Note:
Figures relate to 21 July 1999.
Source:
Analytical Services Division: 100 per cent. data.
Benefits (Automated Credit Transfer)
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 1999, Official Report, column 43W, on automated credit transfer of benefits, in what circumstances he would envisage exception to the norm of benefit payment by automated credit transfer. [103199]
Mr. Rooker: We are still considering this issue. However, one area where an exception is necessary may be where people are prevented from having a bank account, such as those who have been declared bankrupt.
Carers' Pensions
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many carers for elderly and disabled people, who have been in receipt of or who have underlying entitlement to invalid care allowance and home responsibilities protection, he estimates will benefit from the state second pension in each of the 10 years from the start of the state second pension. [103071]
Mr. Bayley:
It is estimated that in the region of 400,000 carers for elderly or disabled people, who have been in receipt of, or have underlying entitlement to, Invalid Care Allowance or home responsibilities protection will build up entitlement to the State Second Pension from the year of its introduction.
20 Dec 1999 : Column: 329W
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the costs of providing the state second pension to carers who have been in receipt of or who have underlying entitlement to invalid care allowance or home responsibilities protection in the first 10 years of the state second pension. [103072]
| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 2002-03 | 0 |
| 2003-04 | 1 |
| 2004-05 | 2 |
| 2005-06 | 4 |
| 2006-07 | 8 |
| 2007-08 | 12 |
| 2008-09 | 16 |
| 2009-10 | 22 |
| 2010-11 | 26 |
| 2011-12 | 30 |
Notes:
1. Gross costs are shown in £ million (rounded to nearest million) in 1999-2000 price terms but are unlikely to be accurate to this degree.
2. State Second Pension is assumed to start in 2002.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much it would cost to backdate the state second pension to 1978 for qualifying carers who reach retirement age after 2002-03. [103118]
Mr. Rooker: Records are not available to identify all individuals with a period of actual or underlying entitlement to Invalid Care Allowance or Home Responsibilities Protection back to 1978.
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