HC Deb 26 October 1987 vol 121 cc192-3W
Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of applications for invalid care allowance from married or cohabiting women has been rejected.

Mr. Scott

At 16 October 1986, 131,300 claims to invalid care allowance had been received from married or cohabiting women. The independent adjudicating authorities have decided that the conditions of entitlement to an allowance are not satisfied in about 14 per cent. (18,000) of these claims.

Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications from married and cohabiting women for invalid care allowance had been received by 31 August.

Mr. Scott

At 31 August about 126,000 claims for invalid care allowance had been received from married or cohabiting women.

Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of applications for invalid care allowance is rejected.

Mr. Scott

About 18.6 per cent.

Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what percentage the limit on earnings for recipients of invalid care allowance without abating that allowance has risen since November 1982; and by what percentage (a) the retail prices index and (b) the average earnings index has increased over the same period.

Mr. Scott

The weekly earnings limit governing entitlement to invalid care allowance has not changed since it was doubled from £6 to £12 in November 1982. In the period November 1982 to August 1987, the latest date for which information is available, the retail price index rose by 24 per cent.; in the same period the average earnings of manual and non-manual workers in all industries and services rose by 42 per cent.

Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for invalid care allowance from married and cohabiting women have been abated due to receipt of (a) supplementary benefit, (b) other benefits and allowances and (c) retirement pension.

Mr. Scott

I regret that the requested information is not available. Since June 1986, when the allowance was extended to married and cohabiting women, payments to some 568 women have been reduced on account of the payment of other social security benefits, including supplementary benefit and retirement pension.

Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications for invalid care allowance from married or cohabiting women have been outstanding for (a) six months or less, (b) six to 12 months and (c) over 12 months; and how many of each category relate to women in Wales.

Mr. Scott

I regret that the requested information is not available, but at 16 October some 131,300 invalid care allowance claims had been received from married and cohabiting women of which about 17,900 were awaiting decision. The average time taken to process an invalid care allowance claim is currently about 11.5 weeks.

Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many outstanding claims for invalid care allowance there are.

Mr. Scott

At 16 October, some 26,300 invalid care allowance claims were awaiting a decision.

Dundee East Local Office Dundee West Local Office
Year Supplementary benefit recipients Supplementary Pension recipients Supplementary benefit recipients Supplementary Pension recipients
1979 8,638 3,579 7,690 3,969
1980 8,880 3,421 7,694 3,859
1981 9,761 3,409 8,365 3,791
1982 10,909 3,192 9,870 3,805
1983 11,309 2,766 10,425 3,600
1984 12,664 3,013 10,937 3,676
1985 13,245 2,697 11,365 3,538
1986 13,019 2,683 11,204 3,278
1987 12,626 2,825 11,330 3,325

The count of cases in action includes some cases where benefit has ceased to be paid but other action is proceeding.

No information is available concerning the number of people claiming family income supplement.

Housing Benefit Recipients in the City of Dundee
Number
1979–80 112,850
1980–81 113,425
1981–82 115,516
1982–83 116,347
1983–84 22,890
1984–85 23,999
1985–86 23,353
1986–87 223,170
1987–88 223,164

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