HC Deb 19 July 1990 vol 176 cc697-8W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence he has of payments of income support to claimants in residential care whose total additional weekly income from retirement pension, attendance allowance and housing or other benefits exceeds the care fees being charged when the weekly personal allowance is taken into account.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

We have no evidence of such payments.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the number of persons in residential care now eligible to claim housing benefit following the widening of the difference between the capital thresholds for eligibility for income support and housing benefit;

(2) what is his estimate of the annual cost to his Department of additional claims for housing benefit from persons in residential care arising from the widening of the difference between the capital thresholds for income support and housing benefit.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

This information is not available.