§ Mr. Alan HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of(a) the numbers gaining from and (b) the cost of extending invalid care allowance for (i) four weeks, (ii) eight weeks and (iii) 13 weeks after the cared-for person has died; [18948]
(2) what is his estimate of (a) the numbers who would benefit from and (b) the cost of extending invalid care allowance for (i) four weeks, (ii) eight weeks and (iii) 13 weeks after the cared-for person has entered permanent residential care. [18981]
§ Mr. BurtThe information is in the table:
Extending invalid care allowance after death of disabled person 4 weeks 8 weeks 13 weeks Estimated costs £3 million £5 million £10 million Estimated gainers 30,000 30,000 30,000 Notes:
1. Invalid care allowance may be payable for up to four weeks after a disabled person has entered residential care.
2. The costs and numbers of gainers from extending invalid care allowance for a period thereafter are estimated to be negligible.
3. Costs are net of impact on income related benefits in payment but assumes no change in the income-related benefit rule whereby carer premium can continue for a further eight weeks after invalid care allowance ceases.
4. Estimates of gainers are rounded to the nearest thousand, of costs of the nearest £1 million.
Source:
Invalid Care Allowance Unit records.
§ Mr. HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people receiving invalid care allowance have offset part-time earnings against care costs since November 1996; and what is his estimate of(a) the numbers gaining and (b) the annual cost. [18947]