§ Mr. Sean Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what circumstances a local office of his Department may stop the payment of invalidity benefit to a claimant.
§ Mr. WhitneyQuestions about entitlement to social security benefits are for determination by the independent adjudication officers appointed under the Social Security Act 1975.
Entitlement to invalidity benefit may cease or be suspended for the following reasons: medical evidence that the claimant is no longer incapable of work; the award of an overlapping social security benefit; late claim to benefit; permanent absence abroad; earnings above the therapeutic earnings limit; imprisonment or detention in legal custody; incapacity due to the claimant's own misconduct; failure to attend or submit to examination or treatment; failure to observe the prescribed rules of behaviour during the period for which benefit is claimed; death of the claimant.
§ Mr. Sean Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions in the past year the Huyton and Prescot office of his Department has stopped the payment of invalidity benefit to claimants; and if he will list the reasons involved.
§ Mr. WhitneyI regret the information is not available. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would write to me.
§ Mr. Sean Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number occasions on which payments of invalidity benefit to claimants have been stopped in the past year.
§ Mr. WhitneyIn the 12 months up to 2 April 1983, the latest period for which figures are available, about 250,000 spells of invalidity benefit ended. Information on the reasons for termination is not available but the great majority will be because the claimant submitted a final doctor's statement certifying he was no longer incapable of work.