HC Deb 01 March 1988 vol 128 c550W
Mr. Gould

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the social security position of patients discharged from long-stay mental hospitals after 31st March;

(2) what representations he has received on the treatment in the Income Support Regulations of long-stay mental patients discharged after 31 March;

(3) how much extra income support patients discharged from long-stay mental hospitals after 31 March will receive, if they are deemed to be receiving higher level supplementary benefit prior to the new regulations coming into force.

Mr. Scott

Until 11 April discharged patients will he able to claim supplementary benefit or an increase in it. Where appropriate they may also qualify for an increase in severe disablement allowance or invalidity benefit, or claim attendance allowance. If they have received supplementary benefit, severe disablement allowance or invalidity benefit for 52 weeks or more prior to their discharge, supplementary benefit will be calculated at the long-term rate.

From 11 April supplementary benefit will be replaced by income support. Claimants under 60 who have been incapable of work for 28 weeks or more, who receive invalidity benefit, severe disablement allowance, attendance allowance or mobility allowance or who are blind will qualify for the disability premium. Claimants aged 60 or more will receive the pensioner premium or, if they qualify for it, the higher pensioner premium. In addition, people living alone who are in receipt of attendance allowance and where no one is receiving invalid care allowance in respect of their care will qualify for the severe disability premium.

We have received a number of representations about the income support position of people living in institutions on 11 April who are discharged into the community after that date. Information about the extra amount of income support which would be required by patients discharged from long-stay mental hospitals before or after 11 April to maintain an actual or deemed supplementary benefit level is not available.