HC Deb 15 December 1989 vol 163 cc849-50W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) applications were made, (b) allowances were granted, (c) reviews undertaken and (d) allowances were reviewed and then withdrawn with respect to the attendance allowance in each of the years 1985 to 1989.

Mr. Scott

The information is in the table.

Attendance allowance: Number of new claims, awards reviews and allowances withdrawn 1985 to 1989
Year New claims Awards Reviews Allowances withdrawn
1985 277,017 184,599 41,995 22,985
1986 286,889 174,064 42,648 23,701
1987 319,667 208,693 58,273 22,717
1988 361,720 207,863 56,087 25,141
11989 276,981 176,346 51,731 20,563
1 To 30 September 1989.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what new guidance has been issued in the last two years regarding eligibility for attendance allowance;

1 April 1979 1 April 1980 1 April 1981 1 April 1982 1 April 1983 1 April 1984 1 April 1985 1 April 1986 1 April 1987 1 April 1988
1. Unemployment Benefit—Standard personal benefit rate1 £15.75 £18.50 £20.65 £22.50 £25.00 £27.05 £28.45 £30.45 £30.80 £31.45
2. Value of 1. in real terms taking 100 as the base for 1 April 1979 100.0 96.5 96.1 95.7 102.2 105.2 103.5 107.5 104.3 102.5
3. Supplementary Benefit—single non-householder aged over 18; ordinary scale rate plus the standard non-householder rent addition £13.90 £16.35 £19.20 £21.2015 £23.65 £24.55 £25.75 £27.50 2£23.85 2£24.35
4. Value of 3. in real terms, taking 100 as the base for 1 April 19794 100.0 96.6 101.3 101.9 109.6 108.7 108.3 112.7 94.6 93.1
5. Supplementary Benefit—single householder Ordinary scale rate3 £15.55 £18.30 £21.30 £23.25 £25.70 £26.80 £28.05 £29.50 £29.80 £30.40
6. Value of 5. in real terms, taking 100 as the base for 1 April 19794 100.0 96.7 100.4 100.2 106.5 106.0 105.5 108.1 105.7 103.9
1 Excludes any earnings-related supplement. This was phased out in June 1982.
2 The non-householder rent addition was no longer applicable to claimants under aged 25.
3 Excludes housing costs. Actual housing costs were added into the benefit calculation until 1982–83 after which they were met via housing

(2) what new guidance has been issued in the last two years regarding the review of attendance allowance.

Mr. Scott

Guidance about the eligibility criteria for attendance allowance and about the review of decisions is issued by the independent attendance allowance board in its "Handbook for Delegated Medical Practitioners". Copies of the handbook published in July 1988, and copies of a revised version issued to delegated medical practitioners in October 1989, are in the Library. The published edition took account of the changes introduced by the Social Security Act 1988 for people whose disabilities pose a risk of substantial danger at night, and the 1989 version incorporates new or revised guidance about thalassaemia in children, cystic fibrosis, the assessment of substantial danger, claimants who are at risk of falling and those who refuse to undergo medical examination.

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