HC Deb 18 February 1998 vol 306 cc753-5W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what instructions concerning the frequency of visits by benefits officers to recipients of disability living allowance have been issued by her Department since 1 May 1997. [27180]

Mr. Denham

One of our key aims is to rebuild integrity in, and public support for, the Social Security system and the way in which public money is spent. Benefits should go to those who are properly entitled to benefit. This is why we have continued with Benefits Integrity Project.

The administration of this programme is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with further details.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 17 February 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what instructions concerning the frequency of visits by benefits officers to recipients of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) have been issued by her Department since 1 May 1997. No instructions have been issued since 1 May 1997 concerning the frequency of visits to recipients of DLA. It may be helpful if I explain that visits are currently being made in connection with the Benefits Integrity Project (BIP). Visits are arranged by the Disability Benefits Centre with responsibility for the area in which the customer lives. The customers visited are those in receipt of the highest rate of both the care and mobility components of DLA. During these visits specially trained DLA staff help the customer or their carer complete the BIP questionnaire to establish the care and mobility needs arising from their disability. Visits are notified well in advance and customers are encouraged to have a friend or carer with them. Visits can be rearranged if inconvenient for the customer or if the customer needs more time to arrange to have someone with them. It would be unusual for more than one visit to be necessary. I hope you find the reply helpful.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of disability living allowance in the Stoke-on-Trent area receive(a) the higher and (b) the lower rate of the mobility component. [27660]

Mr. Denham

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

Letter from Peter Mathison to Ms Joan Walley, dated 17 February 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many claimants of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), in the Stoke-on-Trent area, receive (a) the higher; and (b) the lower rate of the mobility component. The number of claimants of DLA who live in the Stoke-on-Trent area and receive the higher rate of mobility component is 10,900. The number who receive the lower rate is 2,000. These figures are based on a 5% sample of cases, where benefit is in payment, carried out on 30 November 1997. I hope you find this reply helpful.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer on 9 February 1998,Official Report, column 80–81 on disability living allowance for disabled people whose predominant disability is deafness, if she will break the figures down to show the claimants for each age group who are claimants of (a) the mobility component, (b) the care component and (c) both components. [30047]

Mr. Denham

The information is set out in the table.

People in receipt of disability living allowance whose main disabling condition is deafness
Age Mobility only Care only Mobility and care All awards
All ages 2,200 6,640 8,740 17,580
0–41 — 1,740 — 1,740
5–15 580 1,780 4,980 7,340
16–24 380 680 920 1,980
25–29 80 380 360 820
30–34 160 320 360 840
35–39 80 320 480 880
40–44 120 340 220 680
45–49 120 280 280 680
50–54 80 380 420 880
55–59 260 260 140 660
60–64 180 120 400 700
65–69 80 40 160 280
70–74 80 — 20 100
75–79 — — — —
80 and over — — — —
1 Persons under 5 years not eligible for the mobility component.

Note:

Unrounded figures relate to 30 November 1997.

Source:

Analytical Services Division: 5 per cent. data.