Attendance Allowance (Hansard, 19 January 1983)

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many awards of attendance allowance were made in the last year for which figures are available and in each of the preceding two years nationally and in each social security region; and if he will break each figure down by the length of time for which the awards were made.

§ Mr. Rossi
[pursuant to his reply, 22 December 1982, c. 592-i]: The information available is as follows. I regret that a regional breakdown could only be obtained at disproportionate expense.
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Awards of attendance allowance (new and renewal claims) 1979–81

Duration of award (years) 1981 1980 1979

Less than one 1,890 2,443 3,412

One less than two 12,853 11,994 10,998

Two less than three 14,590 12,808 10,427

Three less than four 5,488 5,259 4,790

Four less than five 2,186 2,466 2,369

Five and over 7,698 7,397 6,795

Life^* 96,087 90,594 81,936

Totals 140,792 132,961 120,727

Attendance Allowance Awards^*

At 31 December 1981 At 30 September 1980 At 30 September 1979

Higher Rate Lower Rate Higher Rate Lower Rate Higher Rate Lower Rate

Region Number Rate† Number Rate† Number Rate† Number Rate† Number Rate† Number Rate†

in receipt in receipt in receipt in receipt in receipt in receipt

Northern 8,000 2.7 11,000 3.7 7,000 2.4 10,000 3.4 7,000 2.3 9,500 3.2

Yorkshire and Humberside 11,500 2.3 18,000 3.6 10,000 2.0 14,500 2.9 9,500 1.9 14,000 2.8

East Midlands and East Anglia 16,500 3.0 19,000 3.4 13,500 2.4 15,000 2.7 12,500 2.3 14,000 2.6

London North 9,500 1.8 15,000 2.8 9,000 1.7 12,500 2.4 8,500 1.6 12,500 2.4

London West 12,000 2.2 17,000 3.0 10,000 1.8 14,500 2.6 12,000 2.1 15,000 2.7

London South 17,000 2.8 23,000 3.7 14,500 2.4 20,500 3.4 15,500 2.6 20,500 3.3

South Western 14,000 3.2 17,500 4.0 10,500 2.4 17,000 3.9 10,500 2.5 14,500 3.3

West Midlands 14,500 2.8 19,000 3.7 11,500 2.2 14,500 2.8 11,000 2.2 15,000 2.9

North Western (Manchester) 9,500 2.8 14,000 4.1 8,500 2.5 11,500 3.4 7,500 2.2 10,500 3.0

North Western (Merseyside) 10,500 3.2 15,000 4.6 9,500 2.9 12,500 3.8 9,000 2.7 11,500 3.6

Wales 13,500 4.8 14,500 5.2 12,000 4.3 12,000 4.3 11,000 3.9 11,500 4.2

Scotland 11,500 2.2 18,500 3.6 11,000 2.1 15,000 2.9 10,000 1.9 14,000 2.8

Great Britain 148,000 2.7 202,000 3.7 126,000 2.3 169,000 3.1 123,500 2.3 162,500 3.0

^* All figures quoted are estimates.

† per 1,000 population.

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of applications for attendance allowance in the last year for which figures are available and in each of the preceding two years nationally and in each social security region; and in each case what proportion (a) were awarded (i) the higher rate and (ii) the lower rate on the initial application, (b) requested a review after (i) refusal of the allowance and (ii) award of the lower rate and (c) upon review were (i) awarded the lower rate, (ii) awarded the higher rate, (iii) had the lower rate increased to the higher rate and (iv) had the lower rate withdrawn;
(2) if he will list the number of applications for renewal of attendance allowance in the last year for which figures

Attendance Allowance—Initial Decisions 1979–81

1981 1980 1979

Proportion awarded Proportion awarded Proportion awarded

Region Number of decisions Higher rate per cent. Lower rate per cent. Number of decisions Higher rate per cent. Lower rate per cent. Number of decisions Higher rate per cent. Lower rate per cent.

Northern 8,954 26.1 34.9 8,872 26.9 35.2 8,045 26.9 35.0

Yorkshire and Humberside 13,927 24.5 42.4 12,392 24.3 43.7 12,199 25.5 41.2

East Midlands and East Anglia 14,001 35.3 47.7 12,781 34.9 44.5 12,313 33.9 41.0

London North 10,100 26.6 51.4 8,284 24.5 51.5 7,639 24.1 49.0

London South 16,191 30.4 50.1 15,569 27.5 50.1 14,165 27.6 48.1

London West 10,054 31.3 48.1 9,616 32.3 47.8 9,697 31.8 46.8

South Western 13,492 30.4 45.3 12,885 30.4 45.4 11,568 31.4 43.3

West Midlands 13,136 29.6 49.4 12,428 26.9 47.0 11,220 29.5 45.5

North Western (Manchester) 10,106 27.1 43.5 9,453 28.5 44.3 8,261 29.8 42.8

North Western (Merseyside) 10,496 32.4 43.9 9,921 28.6 41.8 9,355 26.7 37.3

128W
^* Includes awards to parents in respect of a disabled child up to the age of 16.

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of people in receipt of attendance allowance at each rate at the latest date for which figures are available and on the equivalent date in each of the preceding two years; and if he will break down the figures by social security region and the rate per 1,000 population in each region.

§ Mr. Rossi
[pursuant to his reply 22 December 1982, c. 592-ii]: The information is as follows:
are available and in each of the preceding two years nationally and in each social security region; and if he will state in each case what proportion (a) were awarded (i) the higher rate and (ii) the lower rate on the initial application, (b) requested a review after (i) refusal of the allowance and (ii) award of the lower rate and (c) upon review were (i) awarded the lower rate, (ii) awarded the higher rate, (iii) had the lower rate increased to the higher rate, and (iv) had the lower rate withdrawn.

§ Mr. Rossi
[pursuant to his reply, 22 December 1982, c. 592-ii]: The information available is as follows. It relates to decisions given in the relevant years, not to the results of claims made in those years.
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1981 1980 1979

Proportion awarded Proportion awarded Proportion awarded

Region Number of decisions Higher rate per cent. Lower rate per cent. Number of decisions Higher rate per cent. Lower rate per cent. Number of decisions Higher rate per cent. Lower rate per cent.

Scotland 14,821 22.7 38.6 13,209 23.7 39.4 11,565 26.9 38.9

Wales 13,359 26.9 32.4 13,526 26.6 32.6 12,247 27.1 30.4

Total 148,637 28.6 44.1 138,936 27.9 43.6 128,274 28.5 41.7

Attendance Allowance—Renewal Decisions 1979–81

1981 1980 1979

Proportion awarded Proportion awarded Proportion awarded

Region Number of decisions Higher rate per cent. Lower rate per cent. Number of decisions Higher rate per cent. Lower rate per cent. Number of decisions Higher rate per cent. Lower rate per cent.

Northern 1,956 36.0 51.7 1,995 33.3 52.8 1,996 32.8 56.9

Yorkshire and Humberside 2,924 30.6 57.7 2,910 28.1 58.9 2,621 27.8 61.9

East Midlands and East Anglia 3,395 37.0 58.3 3,742 43.8 50.0 2,973 42.5 50.4

London North 2,765 33.8 60.4 2,856 30.4 62.9 2,329 26.8 66.0

London South 3,874 31.6 60.3 4,252 33.2 58.6 3,676 36.9 59.4

London West 2,352 36.4 55.4 2,632 36.0 57.5 2,346 36.1 57.5

South Western 2,358 36.3 53.4 2,906 31.8 58.4 2,381 35.8 57.8

West Midlands 3,563 36.8 54.3 4,020 29.6 58.0 3,383 35.7 56.1

North Western (Manchester) 2,309 36.1 52.6 2,529 35.0 55.1 2,289 35.2 57.6

North Western (Merseyside) 2,592 38.4 55.2 2,506 34.6 56.2 2,187 31.2 59.1

Scotland 2,797 33.0 55.9 2,488 25.9 61.3 2,204 25.9 63.5

Wales 2,462 41.1 47.9 2,916 37.1 49.1 2,370 42.1 48.1

Total 33,347 35.4 55.7 35,752 33.4 56.6 30,855 34.3 57.9

Attendance Allowance—Review Decisions on Dissatisfaction with Earlier Decision^* 1981†

Requests for review Results of reviews

Region Reviews requested after refusal of award, as per cent. of all decisions Reviews requested after award of lower rate, as per cent. of all decisions Awards made‡ after disallowance, as per cent. of all decisions Awards increased from lower rate to higher rate, as per cent. of all decisions Allowance withdrawn/reduced║, as per cent. of all decisions

Northern 5.8 1.4 3.6 1.1 0.01

Yorkshire and Humberside 4.2 1.3 2.7 1.0 0.01

East Midlands and East Anglia 2.1 1.0 1.2 0.7 0.01

London North 3.5 1.7 2.1 1.3 0.01

London South 2.6 1.4 1.8 1.0 0.01

London West 3.1 1.6 2.0 1.2 0.02

South Western 3.7 1.4 2.6 1.0 0.01

West Midlands 3.0 1.3 1.8 1.0 0.02

North Western (Manchester) 4.2 1.3 2.8 1.0 0.02

North Western (Merseyside) 3.3 1.4 2.2 1.1 0.02

Scotland 6.5 1.3 4.3 1.0 0.01

Wales 6.7 1.4 4.4 1.0 0.01

Total 4.0 1.4 2.6 1.0 0.01

^* It is not possible to distinguish between reviews of decisions on initial claims and reviews of decisions on renewal claims.

† Details are not available prior to 1981.

‡ It is not possible to distinguish between reviews which led to an award at the lower rate and those which led to an award at the higher rate.

║ It is not possible to distinguish between reviews which led to the withdrawal of the allowance and those which led to a reduction from higher rate to lower rate.

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of reviews of attendance allowance during the currency of an award in the last year for which figures are available and in each of the preceding two years nationally and in each social security region which were instituted (a) by him and (b)by the claimant; and if he will state in each case the proportion in which (i) the allowance was withdrawn, (ii) the existing award was retained, (iii) the higher rate was decreased to the lower rate and (iv) the lower rate was increased to the higher rate.
130W

§ Mr. Rossi
[pursuant to his reply, 22 December 1982, c. 592-ii]: The information available is as follows. Details are not available for the period before 1981 and are not yet available for 1982.

(a) 525 reviews of awards were made in 1981 following requests by the Secretary of State. The results were as follows-a regional breakdown is not available:

131W

Proportion (per cent.)

Award withdrawn 40.4

Award retained 45.3

Higher rate decreased to lower rate 9.9

Lower rate increased to higher rate 4.4

Reviews (1) of Attendance Allowance Awards in 1981

Region Total Number of Reviews Per cent. in which award withdrawn/reduced (2) Per cent. in which award retained Per cent. in which award increased

Northern 716 6.4 18.2 75.4

Yorkshire and Humberside 1,104 5.3 21.3 73.4

East Midlands and East Anglia 985 7.1 21.2 71.7

London North 843 5.7 21.7 72.6

London South 1,344 4.3 20.5 75.2

London West 1,010 5.0 20.8 74.2

South Western 1,339 4.6 20.6 74.8

West Midlands 1,068 7.3 20.8 71.9

North Western (Manchester) 882 5.1 18.8 76.1

North Western (Merseyside) 938 4.4 19.1 76.5

Scotland 1,013 4.2 22.4 73.4

Wales 1,053 5.3 19.1 75.6

Total 12,295 5.3 20.5 74.2

(1) Details are of reviews sought because of dissatisfaction with the award of the lower rate—20 per cent. or a change in the claimant's need for attention or supervision since the original award was made—80 per cent.

(2) It is not possible to identify reviews which resulted in the withdrawal of the award from those in which the award was reduced from higher rate to lower rate.

Awards of attendance allowance (new and renewal claims) 1979–81
Duration of award (years)	1981	1980	1979
Less than one	1,890	2,443	3,412
One less than two	12,853	11,994	10,998
Two less than three	14,590	12,808	10,427
Three less than four	5,488	5,259	4,790
Four less than five	2,186	2,466	2,369
Five and over	7,698	7,397	6,795
Life^*	96,087	90,594	81,936
Totals	140,792	132,961	120,727

Attendance Allowance Awards^*
	At 31 December 1981	At 30 September 1980	At 30 September 1979
	Higher Rate	Lower Rate	Higher Rate	Lower Rate	Higher Rate	Lower Rate
Region	Number Rate†	Number Rate†	Number Rate†	Number Rate†	Number Rate†	Number Rate†
	in receipt		in receipt		in receipt		in receipt		in receipt		in receipt
Northern	8,000	2.7	11,000	3.7	7,000	2.4	10,000	3.4	7,000	2.3	9,500	3.2
Yorkshire and Humberside	11,500	2.3	18,000	3.6	10,000	2.0	14,500	2.9	9,500	1.9	14,000	2.8
East Midlands and East Anglia	16,500	3.0	19,000	3.4	13,500	2.4	15,000	2.7	12,500	2.3	14,000	2.6
London North	9,500	1.8	15,000	2.8	9,000	1.7	12,500	2.4	8,500	1.6	12,500	2.4
London West	12,000	2.2	17,000	3.0	10,000	1.8	14,500	2.6	12,000	2.1	15,000	2.7
London South	17,000	2.8	23,000	3.7	14,500	2.4	20,500	3.4	15,500	2.6	20,500	3.3
South Western	14,000	3.2	17,500	4.0	10,500	2.4	17,000	3.9	10,500	2.5	14,500	3.3
West Midlands	14,500	2.8	19,000	3.7	11,500	2.2	14,500	2.8	11,000	2.2	15,000	2.9
North Western (Manchester)	9,500	2.8	14,000	4.1	8,500	2.5	11,500	3.4	7,500	2.2	10,500	3.0
North Western (Merseyside)	10,500	3.2	15,000	4.6	9,500	2.9	12,500	3.8	9,000	2.7	11,500	3.6
Wales	13,500	4.8	14,500	5.2	12,000	4.3	12,000	4.3	11,000	3.9	11,500	4.2
Scotland	11,500	2.2	18,500	3.6	11,000	2.1	15,000	2.9	10,000	1.9	14,000	2.8
Great Britain	148,000	2.7	202,000	3.7	126,000	2.3	169,000	3.1	123,500	2.3	162,500	3.0
^* All figures quoted are estimates.
† per 1,000 population.

Attendance Allowance—Initial Decisions 1979–81
	1981	1980	1979
		Proportion awarded		Proportion awarded		Proportion awarded
Region	Number of decisions	Higher rate per cent.	Lower rate per cent.	Number of decisions	Higher rate per cent.	Lower rate per cent.	Number of decisions	Higher rate per cent.	Lower rate per cent.
Northern	8,954	26.1	34.9	8,872	26.9	35.2	8,045	26.9	35.0
Yorkshire and Humberside	13,927	24.5	42.4	12,392	24.3	43.7	12,199	25.5	41.2
East Midlands and East Anglia	14,001	35.3	47.7	12,781	34.9	44.5	12,313	33.9	41.0
London North	10,100	26.6	51.4	8,284	24.5	51.5	7,639	24.1	49.0
London South	16,191	30.4	50.1	15,569	27.5	50.1	14,165	27.6	48.1
London West	10,054	31.3	48.1	9,616	32.3	47.8	9,697	31.8	46.8
South Western	13,492	30.4	45.3	12,885	30.4	45.4	11,568	31.4	43.3
West Midlands	13,136	29.6	49.4	12,428	26.9	47.0	11,220	29.5	45.5
North Western (Manchester)	10,106	27.1	43.5	9,453	28.5	44.3	8,261	29.8	42.8
North Western (Merseyside)	10,496	32.4	43.9	9,921	28.6	41.8	9,355	26.7	37.3

Attendance Allowance—Renewal Decisions 1979–81
	1981	1980	1979
		Proportion awarded		Proportion awarded		Proportion awarded
Region	Number of decisions	Higher rate per cent.	Lower rate per cent.	Number of decisions	Higher rate per cent.	Lower rate per cent.	Number of decisions	Higher rate per cent.	Lower rate per cent.
Northern	1,956	36.0	51.7	1,995	33.3	52.8	1,996	32.8	56.9
Yorkshire and Humberside	2,924	30.6	57.7	2,910	28.1	58.9	2,621	27.8	61.9
East Midlands and East Anglia	3,395	37.0	58.3	3,742	43.8	50.0	2,973	42.5	50.4
London North	2,765	33.8	60.4	2,856	30.4	62.9	2,329	26.8	66.0
London South	3,874	31.6	60.3	4,252	33.2	58.6	3,676	36.9	59.4
London West	2,352	36.4	55.4	2,632	36.0	57.5	2,346	36.1	57.5
South Western	2,358	36.3	53.4	2,906	31.8	58.4	2,381	35.8	57.8
West Midlands	3,563	36.8	54.3	4,020	29.6	58.0	3,383	35.7	56.1
North Western (Manchester)	2,309	36.1	52.6	2,529	35.0	55.1	2,289	35.2	57.6
North Western (Merseyside)	2,592	38.4	55.2	2,506	34.6	56.2	2,187	31.2	59.1
Scotland	2,797	33.0	55.9	2,488	25.9	61.3	2,204	25.9	63.5
Wales	2,462	41.1	47.9	2,916	37.1	49.1	2,370	42.1	48.1
Total	33,347	35.4	55.7	35,752	33.4	56.6	30,855	34.3	57.9

Attendance Allowance—Review Decisions on Dissatisfaction with Earlier Decision^* 1981†
	Requests for review	Results of reviews
Region	Reviews requested after refusal of award, as per cent. of all decisions	Reviews requested after award of lower rate, as per cent. of all decisions	Awards made‡ after disallowance, as per cent. of all decisions	Awards increased from lower rate to higher rate, as per cent. of all decisions	Allowance withdrawn/reduced║, as per cent. of all decisions
Northern	5.8	1.4	3.6	1.1	0.01
Yorkshire and Humberside	4.2	1.3	2.7	1.0	0.01
East Midlands and East Anglia	2.1	1.0	1.2	0.7	0.01
London North	3.5	1.7	2.1	1.3	0.01
London South	2.6	1.4	1.8	1.0	0.01
London West	3.1	1.6	2.0	1.2	0.02
South Western	3.7	1.4	2.6	1.0	0.01
West Midlands	3.0	1.3	1.8	1.0	0.02
North Western (Manchester)	4.2	1.3	2.8	1.0	0.02
North Western (Merseyside)	3.3	1.4	2.2	1.1	0.02
Scotland	6.5	1.3	4.3	1.0	0.01
Wales	6.7	1.4	4.4	1.0	0.01
Total	4.0	1.4	2.6	1.0	0.01
^* It is not possible to distinguish between reviews of decisions on initial claims and reviews of decisions on renewal claims.
† Details are not available prior to 1981.
‡ It is not possible to distinguish between reviews which led to an award at the lower rate and those which led to an award at the higher rate.
║ It is not possible to distinguish between reviews which led to the withdrawal of the allowance and those which led to a reduction from higher rate to lower rate.

	Proportion (per cent.)
Award withdrawn	40.4
Award retained	45.3
Higher rate decreased to lower rate	9.9
Lower rate increased to higher rate	4.4

Reviews (1) of Attendance Allowance Awards in 1981
Region	Total Number of Reviews	Per cent. in which award withdrawn/reduced (2)	Per cent. in which award retained	Per cent. in which award increased
Northern	716	6.4	18.2	75.4
Yorkshire and Humberside	1,104	5.3	21.3	73.4
East Midlands and East Anglia	985	7.1	21.2	71.7
London North	843	5.7	21.7	72.6
London South	1,344	4.3	20.5	75.2
London West	1,010	5.0	20.8	74.2
South Western	1,339	4.6	20.6	74.8
West Midlands	1,068	7.3	20.8	71.9
North Western (Manchester)	882	5.1	18.8	76.1
North Western (Merseyside)	938	4.4	19.1	76.5
Scotland	1,013	4.2	22.4	73.4
Wales	1,053	5.3	19.1	75.6
Total	12,295	5.3	20.5	74.2
(1) Details are of reviews sought because of dissatisfaction with the award of the lower rate—20 per cent. or a change in the claimant's need for attention or supervision since the original award was made—80 per cent.
(2) It is not possible to identify reviews which resulted in the withdrawal of the award from those in which the award was reduced from higher rate to lower rate.