§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the changes that have been made to social security benefits for people with disabilities since 1986; and what estimates he has made of(a) the number of people whose income has (i) increased and (ii) decreased by each of these changes and (b) the amounts of money involved in each change. [25906]
594W
§ Mr. Burt[holding answer 30 April 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Chelsea (Sir N. Scott) to the hon. Member for Bristol, East (Ms Corston) on 26 July 1993, Official Report, columns 715–16. Information is in the table on changes that have occurred to benefits for long-term sick and disabled people since July 1993.
Estimates of the number of people whose income has increased or decreased are not available, and it is not possible to estimate the cumulative financial effects of each change. However, expenditure overall on benefits for long-term sick and disabled people has quadrupled in real terms since 1979 and more than doubled in real terms since 1986.
595W
Start date Benefit Change October 1993 Disability Working allowance Allowed for the introduction into DWA and family credit of payment of benefit in a single lump sum payment. May 1994 Invalidity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance Claimants accepted as being incapable of work allowed to do unpaid voluntary work of less than 16 hours a week. October 1994 Severe Disablement Allowance The upper age limit for claiming SDA and the requirement to continue to satisfy entitlement conditions, equalised at 65 for both men and women. October 1994 Disability Working Allowance Introduction of child care allowance April 1995 Income Support: Disability Premium and Higher Pensioner Premium Long-term incapacity benefit replaces invalidity benefit as an entry to disability premium and higher pensioner premiums April 1995 Severe Disablement Allowance All new claims to SDA subject to the new incapacity for work test. April 1995 Severe Disablement Allowance Rules amended which link periods of entitlement. April 1995 Incapacity Benefit Sickness benefit and invalidity benefit replaced by incapacity benefit. April 1995 Disability Working Allowance Introduction of disabled child's allowance, and access to DWA after period of training. July 1995 Disability Working Allowance New 30-hours rule in DWA and family credit.
Start date Benefit Change March 1996 Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Clarification of entitlement to reduced earnings allowance and retirement allowance April 1996 Disability Working Allowance Child care disregard raised