Pensioner Couples

HC Deb 22 April 1991 vol 189 cc327-8W

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those benefits and their average value which are available to pensioner couples on basic pensions who are in receipt of income support.

Miss Widdecombe

The benefits listed in the table are available to pensioner couples on income support with basic pensions. They are also available to pensioner couples who do not receive income support.

• Housing benefit
• Community charge benefit
• Mobility allowance¹
• Invalid care allowance²
• Severe disability allowance
• Invalidity benefit³
• Sickness benefit³
• Industrial injury benefit
• War disablement pension
• Attendance allowance
• Help with NHS charges and payments from the social fund⁴

Notes:

¹ Mobility allowance continues to age 80 but cannot be claimed after age 66 (but mobility conditions must have been met before age 65).

² Invalid care allowance continues but cannot be claimed after age 60 for women and 65 for men.

³ Invalidity benefit and sickness benefit can be paid up to five years beyond pension age.

⁴ Crisis loans and payments for certain specific items are possible if customers are not on income support.

Whether or not any of these would actually be payable to any one couple would depend on their particular circumstances.

Information on the average amount of each benefit in payment to pensioner couples is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.