§ Mr. PriorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) for what reasons disability living allowance assessment forms were sent out to war pensioners in receipt of(a) the War Pensions Agency mobility supplement and (b) the war pensions constant allowance; [29387]
(2) if she will make a statement on the relationship between the War Pensions Agency payments, mobility supplement and constant allowance, and disability living allowance; [29385]
(3) how many disability living allowance assessment forms have been sent to war pensioners in receipt of (a) the War Pensions Agency mobility supplement and (b) the war pensions constant allowance. [29386]
§ Mr. DenhamThe administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with further details.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Prior, dated 3 March 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions regarding Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and War Pensions.Over the next two or so years, as part of the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) specially trained staff will make enquiries by postal questionnaire or home visit in over 400,000 cases to establish whether DLA is being paid correctly. Enquiries are directed to those people receiving the higher rate of the mobility component combined with the highest rate of the care component—who are visited, and those receiving the higher rate of the mobility component combined with the middle rate of the care component—who are sent a questionnaire by post.Under the War Pensions Scheme, where the need for care or where mobility problems are due to the war pensioned disablement, the more preferential Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA) and/or Mobility Supplement (WPMS) may be awarded. A war pensioner may however be entitled to DLA where the need for care or mobility problems are not a result of the war pensioned disablement. War Pensioners who are in receipt of DLA at the rates mentioned above will receive either a questionnaire or visit.It is a basic principle of the Social Security system that only one benefit at a time can be paid to a person for the same need. If someone in receipt of CAA or WPMS claims DLA, the DLA entitlement will be assessed in the usual way. However as CAA and/or WPMS overlap with DLA, payment of the latter will be affected. A War Pensioner in receipt of CAA or WPMS who is also entitled to DLA will retain underlying entitlement to the appropriate component of DLA.686WThe number of War Pensioners in receipt of WPMS and/or CAA who have been contacted as part of the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) is contained in the following table.
Benefit Postal Visit Renewal War Pensions Mobility Supplement 53 19 11 CAA WP Service Pension Instrument 12 6 1 Totals 65 25 12 Grand Total 102 Figures are provisional and subject to change.
Customers in receipt of only one component of DLA should not be contacted by the BIP. I apologise for any errors that have occurred and investigations will be undertaken to establish the circumstances as to why these War Pensioners have been contacted under BIP to avoid any recurrence.
I hope you find this reply helpful.