§ Mr. LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he proposes to extend the age restriction on qualification for mobility allowance beyond the present limits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottWe intend to incorporate mobility allowance in the new disability allowance from April 1992. Like mobility allowance, the disability allowance will be awarded only in respect of disability occurring before age 65, but there will be no upper age limit for payment provided the criteria continue to be met. When the disability allowance is introduced, we intend to remove the upper age limit for payment of mobility allowance to people who are already receiving it.
§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what alterations are envisaged in the introduction of the disability allowance to ensure an efficient assessment procedure and minimise distress to the claimant.
890W
§ Mr. ScottWe are considering the assessment procedures for the disability allowance. We shall be concerned to devise procedures which are efficient, and accessible and helpful to claimants.
§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average number of weeks that lapses between a claim and the date of notification of the decision to the claimant in respect of allowances for(a) mobility, (b) attendance and (c) severe disablement.
§ Mr. ScottThe latest available information is as follows:
Weeks Mobility allowance (March) 7.0 Attendance allowance (March) 7.6 Severe disablement allowance (February) 12.1
§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time elapsing between a letter of appeal and refusal of mobility allowance and notification of the decision of the adjudicating medical authority.
§ Mr. ScottThe average time taken between receipt of an appeal to a medical board against a decision on a mobility allowance claim and notification of the decision is currently 11.6 weeks.
§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time elapsing between a letter of review after refusal of attendance allowance and notification of the decision of the attendance allowance board.
§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time which elapses between a letter of appeal against a refusal to severe disablement allowance or refusal of mobility allowance after a medical board and the medical appeal tribunal hearing.
§ Mr. ScottThe latest available figures are for the quarter ending on 30 September 1989. During that period, the average time taken between the date of lodgement of an appeal to a medical appeal tribunal and the hearing was 20.8 weeks for severe disablement allowance claims and 16.2 weeks for mobility allowance claims.