§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has now made of the likely financial implications for his Department of the creation of local authority care home trusts.
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 29 January 1991]: Decisions on eligibility for income support are made individually for each case by local adjudication officers, and data on these decisions is not collated centrally.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what guidance he has issued to local adjudication officers with regard to the payment of income support to residents in local authority care home trusts;
(2) what guidance he has issued to local adjudication officers regarding the eligibility for income support of individuals suffering from senile dementia who are unable to exercise personal choice and are placed by a local authority in a care home trust.
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answers 29 and 31 January 1991]: Eligibility for income support is defined by regulation and is available in respect of fees, up to certain limits, to residents of registered residential care homes and 176W in certain other types of homes. Independent adjudication officers are provided with guidance on the interpretation of the regulations by the chief adjudication officer (rather than my right hon. Friend) in the published adjudication officers guide. Where an individual suffering from senile dementia is unable to act for himself a suitable person would be appointed to act on his behalf and eligibility for income support would be determined in the usual way, taking account of all the relevant circumstances.