HC Deb 10 March 1987 vol 112 cc161-2W
Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, following his statement of 23 June 1986 on invalid care allowance, Official Report, column 21, how many successful invalid care allowance claims require recovery action because of the overlapping benefit rule; and, of these, how many involved supplementary benefit.

Mr. Major

None; but to date arrears of invalid care allowance have been abated in some 8,000 cases on account of other social security benefits paid to or for the claimant. In about 800 cases the other benefit was supplementary benefit.

Mr. George

Robertson asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, following his statement of 23 June 1986 on invalid care allowance, Official Report, column 21, how long it will take to clear the backlog of invalid care allowance claims.

Mr. Major

To date about half the invalid care allowance claims received from married women have been decided. We estimate that the remainder will be cleared within the next 18 weeks.