§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many 377W women have been refused the non-contributory invalidity pension for married women because they fail to satisfy the normal household duties test; and what proportion: (a) of all claims and (b) of all refusals this represents.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisUp to 3rd November 1978, 11,291 claims for non-contributory invalidity pension had been disallowed on the ground that the household duties test was not satisfied. This represents 16 per cent. of all claims for the benefit and 52 per cent. of all disallowances.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women who have been refused the noncontributory invalidity pension for married women because of the household duties test have appealed; and what proportion of these appeals have been successful.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe total number of appeals against the disallowance of claims for HNCIP received up to 3rd November 1978 is:—
Save at disproportionate expense, it is impossible to say how many of those appeals were based on the satisfaction of the household duties test. However, up to 30th September 1978, local tribunals decided 3,474 cases on that question. They allowed 52 per cent. of the appeals. I regret that similar information in respect of appeals to the commissioners could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.
To local tribunals 5,783 To National Insurance Commissioners 433