HC Deb 13 February 1990 vol 167 cc148-9W
Mr. Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what data the Government have used to estimate that 30,000 carers will benefit from the introduction of a carer's premium.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The estimate was derived from information on recipients of invalid care allowance in the income support annual statistical inquiry.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans there are to publicise the introduction of a carer's premium;

(2) what plans he has to ensure that people who have not previously claimed invalid care allowance because of the overlapping benefit rules will now do so in order to benefit from the introduction of a carer's premium.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

People in receipt of invalid care allowance who get income support, housing benefit or community charge benefit will be awarded the new carer's premium automatically. For other people, we will be publishing revised versions of leaflets. We will also revise the guide to non-contributory benefits for disabled people, which is intended for advisers and members of the public who have a particular interest in disabled people. We are giving careful consideration to the question of additional publicity.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the carer's premium will be awarded in addition to any other premium; and whether(a) people who start caring after reaching pension age and (b) pensioners who were carers before reaching pension age but did not claim invalid care allowance, will be able to receive the carer's premium.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The carer's premium will be awarded in addition to any other premium for which the claimant qualifies. The premium cannot be paid to people who start caring after reaching pension age, or who did not claim invalid care allowance before reaching that age.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of people who would receive the carer's premium with(a) income support and (b) housing benefit/community charge benefit if the premium was awarded to all claimants caring for someone receiving attendance allowance for at least 35 hours a week and not earning more than £20 a week, regardless of whether they were in receipt of invalid care allowance.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

I regret that the information needed to make such an estimate is not available.