HC Deb 26 February 1990 vol 168 cc58-9W
Mr. Bowis

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his proposals to help people who are partially incapable of work.

Mr. Scott

We plan to introduce, from April 1992, a disability employment credit which will help disabled people who are partially incapable of work take up and return to employment by providing assistance with low earnings similar to that given to families through family credit. We estimate that about 50,000 people might be entitled to this new benefit. The DEC will be available to people receiving a new disability allowance or those who have been receiving invalidity benefit, severe disablement allowance or the income. support or housing benefit disability premium before starting work, and who satisfy a doctor that they are only partially capable of work. We are also improving incentives to rehabilitation in employment by increasing by £6.50 the therapeutic earnings limit in invalidity benefit and severe disablement allowance and by extending invalidity benefit and severe disablement allowance to people who undertake an employment rehabilitation course.

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