§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many benefit claimants in receipt of invalid care allowance, in each of the years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88, had that benefit disallowed following the death of a husband, the award of widow's benefit and the application of the overlapping benefit regulations;
(2) how many applications for invalid care allowance were received in each of the years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88 and refused on the grounds that this allowance overlapped with widow's benefit.
§ Mr. ScottI regret that the information requested is not available. The information which is available does not distinguish between women according to their marital status. Since June 1986 (when the allowance was extended to married and cohabiting women) 3,571 claims from women have been disallowed because they were receiving another social security benefit, equal to or higher than the weekly rate of invalid care allowance (ICA). Payments of ICA to a further group of 4,715 women have been stopped because they have become entitled to another social security benefit equal to or higher than the weekly rate of ICA.