§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements there are to publicise the new severe disablement benefit, due to be introduced in November 1984 to ensure there is a maximum take-up.
§ Mr. NewtonStarting in September, providing the legislation has been approved by Parliament, a national advertising campaign will be mounted to alert all potential claimants to the introduction of severe disablement allowance. We are already writing to all supplementary benefit recipients who can be identified as having a possible underlying entitlement to the existing noncontributory invalidity pension to make them aware of the need to establish their title before November if they would wish to be automatically transferred to the proposed new benefit without being subject to the 80 per cent. disablement test.