HC Deb 27 February 1976 vol 906 cc378-80W
Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is her estimate of the number of recipients of non-contributory invalidity pension who are drawing supplementary benefits; and what proportion these are of the total;

(2) what is her estimate of the number of recipients of non-contributory invalidity pension who were formerly receiving supplementary benefit but whose incomes have now been raised beyond the level of the supplementary benefit allowance.

Mr. Alfred Morris,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 553], gave the following information:

It was originally estimated that about 135,000 people receiving supplementary benefit would become eligible for the non-contributory invalidity pension from 20th November 1975, and that about 10,000 of these potential recipients would have their incomes raised above the level at which they would be entitled to supplementary benefit.

About 56,000 people who were receiving supplementary benefit had claimed a non-contributory invalidity pension by November 1975. We do not know how many of these have had their incomes raised above the supplementary benefit level, although it is a reasonable supposition that the 10,000 with a prospect of a net cash gain would be most likely to claim. At least part of the income of all of the recipients, of course, became free of any means-test and this in itself is a welcome development.

If it is assumed that 46,000 people are drawing supplementary benefit and the non-contributory invalidity pension, this represents about 38 per cent. of the approximate total of 120,000 non-contributory invalidity pensioners as at November 1975.

Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recipients of non-contributory invalidity pension receive a net weekly gain in respect of their personal entitlement of (a) over £7 per week, (b) £6 to £6.99, (c) £5 to £5.99, (d) £4 to £4.99, (e) £3 to £3.9, (f) £2 to £2.99, (g) £1 to £1.99 and (h) under £1.

Mr. Alfred Morris,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 553], gave the following information:

I regret that information is not available in the form requested. The figures which are available stem from our original estimates, and from assumptions about the income of the supplementary benefit claimants to the new benefit. On this basis, it is estimated that, out of the total of 120,000 recipients of the non-contributory invalidity pension as at November 1975, 8,000 have received a net weekly gain of over £7 a week in their personal entitlement; 5,000 have received a net weekly gain of £3-£6.99, and 61,000 have received a net weekly gain of under £3. The 61,000 with a net weekly gain of under £3 include 56,000 long-stay patients in mental hospitals, now eligible for the full £2.65 personal allowance, who had hitherto received only discretionary allowances for personal requirements from hospital funds.

Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average net weekly gain to each recipient of the non-contributory invalidity pension; and what the average net weekly gain would be if the non-contributory invalidity pension was raised to the level of the full invalidity pension with invalidity allowance payable where appropriate.

Mr. Alfred Morris,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 553], gave the following information:

I must emphasise that the figures can only be broad estimates based on the most reasonable assumptions that can be made. On this basis, the average net weekly gain to each recipient of the non-contributory invalidity pension is between £1.50 and £2 a week. It is estimated that if the non-contributory invalidity pension were raised to the level of the contributory invalidity pension, with invalidity allowance where appropriate, the average net weekly gain would roughly double. These estimates take account of the fact that the maximum personal benefit for the long-term hospital in-patient without dependants is £2.65 a week.

Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the number of recipients of non-contributory invalidity pension who are currently drawing supplementary benefits but whose total income would exceed the supplementary benefit needs allowance if the rate of non-contributory invalidity pension were raised to that of invalidity pension with invalidity allowance paid where appropriate.

Mr. Alfred Morris,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 553], gave the following information:

If the rate of non-contributory invalidity pension were raised to that of invalidity pension, with invalidity allowance where appropriate, it is likely that many of the recipients of supplementary benefit who last year decided not to claim a non-contributory invalidity pension would choose to do so. As a result, perhaps something like 100,000 people in all who were receiving supplementary benefit at 20th November 1975, might have their incomes raised above the supplementary benefit level.