HC Deb 18 July 1988 vol 137 cc483-4W
Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants were eligible for severe disablement allowance, but did not claim it because they were already in receipt of supplementary benefit and would not have been any better off financially if they claimed severe disablement allowance, at the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Scott

I regret that reliable estimates are not available.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many(a) married women, (b) single women and (c) men are excluded from severe disablement allowance because of the 80 per cent. test of disablement.

Mr. Scott

Available information relates to claims disallowed because of failure of the 80 per cent. test and, as at 7 April 1987, is as follows:

  1. (a) 10,111
  2. (b) 2,202
  3. (c) 3,629

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants(a) were transferred from non-contributory invalidity pension and housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension to severe disablement allowance in November 1984, (b) have been awarded severe disablement allowance since November 1984 and (c) are in receipt of severe disablement allowance at the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Scott

The information requested is as follows:

(a) 251,900 (i) non-contributory invalidity pension 197,100
(ii) housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension 54,800
(b) 45,000 (estimated as at 4 April 1987)
(c) 260,100 (i) men 102,200
(ii) women 157,900.