§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the transitional arrangements for claimants currently in receipt of mobility and attendance allowance after April 1992 when the disability living allowance and disability working allowance benefits come into being.
§ Mr. ScottThe arrangements are set out in the Social Security (Introduction of Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 1991. All current beneficiaries will be sent a mailshot in January about the introduction of disability living allowance in April. People who are in receipt of either mobility allowance or attendance allowance or both will be automatically transferred to the comparable components and rates of disability living allowance. People who are in receipt of one or other of the current benefits will also be invited to claim the other component352W if they think they will be entitled to it. If they do wish to claim, they will be able to do so on a special "one component" claim form, rather than needing to request a general review of their benefit.
No transitional arrangements are needed for disability working allowance as it is an entirely new benefit.