Invalid Care Allowance (Hansard, 25 June 1980)

§ Mrs. Renée Short
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to extend the invalid care allowance to non-relatives, as recommended in the report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee.

§ Mr. Prentice
I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 4 June.—[Vol. 985, c.770–71.]

§ Mrs. Renée Short
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much he 223W estimates it would cost to extend the payment of invalid care allowances to married women; and if he will consider taking this action.

§ Mr. Prentice
It is estimated that at current benefit rates it would cost up to £35 million to extend invalid care allowance to married women who are residing with or maintained by their husbands, and I have no plans to do this.

§ Mrs. Renée Short
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider extending the payment of invalid care allowance to those caring for severely disabled people who do not qualify for attendance allowance or who need fewer than 35 hours care per week.

§ Mr. Prentice
I have no proposals to extend invalid care allowance in this way.

Before uprating After uprating

£ £

1. War pensions unemployability supplement (a) (b) 38.70 45.10

2. Supplementary benefit—long-term rate (b) 37.65 43.45

3. Retirement pension (c) 37.30 43.45

4. Invalidity pension^*; industrial injuries unemployability supplement^*; unemployment^* or sickness^* benefit where claimant over pension age(a)(d) 37.30 41.60

5. Injury benefit^*(e) 32.70 36.15

6. Supplementary benefit—ordinary rate (b) 29.70 34.60

7. Unemployment^* or sickness^* benefit (e) 29.95 33.40

8. Non-contributory invalidity pension 22.40 26.10

9. Retirement pension for persons over pensionable age on 5 July 1948 and invalid care allowance (f) 22.40 26.10

Notes:
(a) An unemployability supplement is awarded as an addition to disablement benefit (100 per cent. rate 38.00 before uprating, £44.30 after).
(b) Various additions are normally payable.
(c) Graduated retirement benefit, additional component, increments for deferred retirement, invalidity allowance, and age addition may be payable in addition.
(d) Invalidity allowance and additional component may be payable with invalidity pension.
(e) Earnings-related supplement may be payable.
(f) Age addition to retirement pension will be payable.

	Before uprating	After uprating
	£	£
1. War pensions unemployability supplement (a) (b)	38.70	45.10
2. Supplementary benefit—long-term rate (b)	37.65	43.45
3. Retirement pension (c)	37.30	43.45
4. Invalidity pension^; industrial injuries unemployability supplement^; unemployment^* or sickness^* benefit where claimant over pension age(a)(d)	37.30	41.60
5. Injury benefit^*(e)	32.70	36.15
6. Supplementary benefit—ordinary rate (b)	29.70	34.60
7. Unemployment^* or sickness^* benefit (e)	29.95	33.40
8. Non-contributory invalidity pension	22.40	26.10
9. Retirement pension for persons over pensionable age on 5 July 1948 and invalid care allowance (f)	22.40	26.10