HC Deb 13 February 1998 vol 306 cc429-31W
Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the disability benefits assessment made in respect of Mrs. Carol Preston of Stockport. [29205]

Mr. Denham

The administration of the Benefits system is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend with further details. The BIP was conceived as a response to the Benefit Review which identified a potential for up to £499m DLA fraud annually; it is essentially a measure designed to secure benefit integrity—that is to get the right amount of benefit to the right people—rather than an explicitly anti-Fraud measure. The methodology adopted, which takes account of the sensitivities involved in approaching large numbers of the most seriously disabled people in society, makes it unlikely that overt fraud will be uncovered but maximises the likelihood of revealing incorrect provision. As at 31 December 1997, the BIP has identified 89 cases in which fraud was suspected, of which 36 have been referred to the Benefit Fraud Investigation Service for further investigation, which have not yet been completed. In the remaining 53 cases, fraud staff in the Disability Benefits Directorate decided that there was no realistic prospect of determining whether fraud had occurred and the files were closed without further action. Special action is taken to try and minimise unnecessary disruption to customers suffering from certain categories of illness so they will not be contacted as part of BIP. These include customers suffering from; a terminal illness (where life expectancy is likely to be under six months); quadriplegics; paraplegics; people who are both deaf and blind; double amputees and those within the BA definition of severe mental impairment. These categories were introduced following a meeting with Disability organisations in June 1997. From June 1997 customers included in these categories have been identified from computer records. A small number of customers have more than one disabling condition and our computer records make provision for only one to be recorded, as a result some customers in the relevant categories have not always been screened out. Since November 1997 a clerical check of these records has been introduced to identify as many as possible of these cases. Regrettably there is a small number of customers whose clerical records do not provide sufficiently detailed information for us to identify them as persons who should not be contacted. I apologise for these errors. The number of customers mistakenly contacted is set out in the attached table. Whilst all efforts are taken to avoid these customers being contacted, should it occur, and evidence is gathered, the Adjudication Officer would have to take the information into account when deciding entitlement. Entitlement to DLA is based on the effects of a person's disabling condition on their day-to-day life, rather than on the basis of the disabling condition itself. I hope you find the reply helpful.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Winnick, dated 12 February 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding whether she would review the disability benefits assessment made in respect of Mrs. Carol Preston of Stockport. A request for a review of this decision was received on 18 December 1997. It was supported by the local Citizens Advice Bureau who provided more detailed information about Mrs. Preston's need for care at night. A different Adjudication Officer looked at the papers again and referred the case to a Benefits Agency Medical Officer for advice. The AO's decision was notified to Mrs. Preston on 9 February 1998. I hope you find the reply helpful.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases in the last five years officials involved in assessing claims for disability benefit have been disciplined for reducing or refusing such claims. [29204]

Mr. Denham

The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend with further details.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Winnick, dated 12 February 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding how many cases in the last five years officials involved in assessing claims for disability benefit have been disciplined for reducing or refusing such claims. There have been no recorded cases within the last five years. I hope you find the reply helpful.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have had their disability benefit reduced in the last 12 months. [29202]

Mr. Denham

The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend with further details.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Winnick, dated 12 February 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding how many people have had their disability benefit reduced in the last 12 months. The number of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance customers in Great Britain who have had their benefit reduced in the 12 months ending November 1997, is 28,900. This figure includes renewal cases and reductions as a result of changes other than to the disability, for example, hospitalisation. It is a rounded figure based on the 5% extract. I hope you find the reply helpful.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans the Government have to reduce the disability living allowance and which groups representative of disabled persons she has consulted. [29510]

Mr. Denham

Disability benefits, including Disability Living Allowance, are included in the Department's Comprehensive Spending Review, which was announced on 11 June last year. The review is an important step in our plan to modernise and improve the Social Security system, so that it helps people to work as far as they are able; provides appropriate support to those who cannot work; and makes the most effective use of the resources available.

No decisions have yet been made. When we have identified specific proposals we will consult disabled people, their organisations and others with an interest. We will not implement any changes without first consulting them.