§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what are the numbers of invalid care allowance recipients who are(a) entitled and (b) potentially entitled to income support, housing benefit or community charge benefit;
(2) how many invalid care allowance claims have been disqualified on account of the overlapping benefits regulations; and how many of these claims were received (a) prior to 1 October 1990 and (b) after 1 October 1990;
(3) how many invalid care allowance claimants would be entitled to the carer's premium were it not for the overlapping benefits regulations.
§ Miss WiddecombeAt the time of the May 1989 annual statistical inquiry, some 23,000 income support recipients declared receipt of invalid care allowance. It is estimated that, at the same time, the number of households where the claimant and/or the partner was in receipt of housing benefit, but excluding community charge rebate, in Great Britain was around 6,000. The number of invalid care allowance recipients who would qualify for income support, housing benefit or community charge benefit if they claimed it is not known. Just over 10,000 claims to invalid care allowance have been disqualified solely on account of the overlapping benefits regulations, of which around 150 have been dealt with after 1 October 1990. From 1 October 1990, when the carer premium was introduced, all invalid care allowance claimants, who do not qualify for that benefit solely because of the overlapping benefits regulations, are entitled to the carer premium in income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit.