§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what level he intends to raise the invalidity benefit therapeutic earnings limit in November.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt is proposed to raise the limit to £15 a week.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many instances in the last year for which figures are available insurance officers have refused to accept earnings received by invalidity pensioners as therapeutic earnings despite being below the limit then in force; if he will list the grounds on which an insurance officer may refuse to accept such earnings as therapeutic; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe insurance officer will not accept work as "therapeutic" unless he is satisfied that the work is undertaken under medical supervision as part of treatment while a hospital patient or that it is work which the claimant has good cause for doing. "Good cause" is 101W generally interpreted by the independent determining authorities as being work which is undertaken on the advice of a doctor. Records are not kept of claims where the insurance officer has refused to accept that the claimant's work was "therapeutic".