HC Deb 07 June 2000 vol 351 cc286-8W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of decisions by adjudication officers and decision makers on Disability Living Allowance have proceeded to (i) review stage and (ii) an independent appeal tribunal in each of the last five years. [124707]

Mr. Bayley

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

Mr. Bayley

The information is in the table.

Disability Living Allowance:recipients by rate and year
Thousand
Components and rates 1995–961 1996–971 1997–981 1998–991 1999–20001
All awards2 1,589 1,768 1,926 2,014 2,084
Higher rate care 290 336 369 383 396
Middle rate care 418 487 543 567 599
Lower rate care 287 348 405 451 488
Higher rate mobility 1,126 1,229 1,313 1,342 1,360
Lower rate mobility 272 327 378 415 448
1 Figures based on five per cent. data relating to 31 August
2 Columns do not sum because many claimants are awarded both care and mobility components

Source:

DSS Information Centre

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money has been paid out in Disability Living Allowance there have been in each of the last five years. [124712]

Mr. Bayley

The information is in the table.

>Disability Living Allowance:expenditure by year
Year £ million
1995–96 3,802
1996–97 4,498
1997–98 4,953
1998–99 5,336
1999–20001 5,630

Raising age limit of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) mobility component
to age 70 to age 75 to age 80
Cost (£ billion) Gainers (Million) (£ billion) Gainers (Million) (£ billion) Gainers (Million)
2001–02 0.3 0.15 0.8 0.4 1.4 0.75
2002–03 0.4 0.2 0.9 0.45 1.6 0.75
2003–04 0.4 0.2 1.0 0.45 1.7 0.8
2004–05 0.5 0.25 1.0 0.5 1.8 0.85
2005–06 0.5 0.25 1.1 0.5 1.9 0.85

Notes:

1. Costs are in cash prices and rounded to nearest hundred million and number of gainers rounded to the nearest fifty thousand.

2. Estimates derived from model of entitlement based on 1996–97 Disability Survey and forecast caseloads.

3. Estimates are subject to a significant margin of error underlying uncertainties of modelling entitlement from available survey data. It is assumed that cases leave the benefit at an average rate for all DLA mobility cases.

4. Estimated costs include effects on income-related benefits.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the(a) cost and (b) number of beneficiaries, in each of the next five years, of removing the upper age limit for the Disability Living Allowance (i) mobility component and (ii) lower rate care component. [124687]

Mr. Bayley

The information is in the table.

Estimated cost of and numbers of gainers from abolition of upper age limit for Disability Living Allowance mobility component and care component
Cost of extending mobility component (£ billion) Gainers (million) Cost of extending care component (£ billion) Gainers (million)
2001–02 2.6 1.30 0.2 0.30
2002–03 2.7 1.35 0.2 0.30
2003–04 2.8 1.35 0.3 0.30
2004–05 3.0 1.40 0.3 0.30
2005–06 3.1 1.45 0.3 0.30
1 Figure estimated

Source:

DSS Information Centre

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the(a) cost and (b) number of beneficiaries, in each of the next five years, of raising the upper age limit to (a) 70, (b) 75 and (c) 80 years for the Disability Living Allowance mobility component. [124688]

Mr. Bayley

The information is in the tables.

Notes:

1. Costs are in cash prices and rounded to nearest 100 million and number of gainers rounded to the nearest 50,000.

2. Estimates derived from model of entitlement based on 1996–97 Disability Survey and forecast case loads.

3. Estimates are subject to a significant margin of error reflecting underlying uncertainties of modelling entitlement from available survey data.

4. Estimated costs include effects on income related benefits.