Disability Benefits (Hansard, 15 July 1999)

§ Mr. Bayley

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

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 14 July 1999: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question if he will review the current situation in respect of the award of disability benefit to Penn Wooding of Brixham, Devon; and what plans he has to clarify the instruction on form DLA 434 sections 2 and 2A with reference to the rubric relating to changes in circumstance. I can confirm that the review of Mr. Wooding's entitlement to the care component has been completed. The existing entitlement ends on 31 July 1999, and entitlement at the higher rate has been awarded from 1 August 1999 for an indefinite period. The decision was notified to Mr. Wooding on 8 July. Mr. Wooding's existing entitlement to the mobility component at the higher rate remains unchanged. The instruction on Sections 2 and 2A of claim form DLA 434 is included so that customers who apply for a renewal of entitlement, and whose needs remain unchanged, do not need to complete a lengthy series of questions. However, adjudication officers are 310W responsible for deciding what evidence is necessary to determine entitlement and have the authority to ask for further information if there is some doubt about the available evidence. Our procedures and forms are kept under review. In addition, the Disability Living Allowance Modernisation Programme aims to improve and modernise delivery of the benefit, including redesigning procedures and claim forms. The matters raised by your question will be taken into account in developing an improved service. In view of the nature of Mr. Wooding's condition, he should not have been asked to provide any further information. I regret that this occurred and I apologise to Mr. Wooding for this error.