§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what work is being considered or begun, or for which funding is earmarked by the Department or the Social Security Agency for publicity in connection with the introduction of disability allowance and disability working allowance.
(2) how much money will be allowed for public education to be undertaken by his Department and/or the Social Security Agency prior to and following the introduction of the disability allowance and disability working allowance so that those who are disabled, informal carers and advice workers with caring professions are aware of the changes; and how the funds available will be spread over the number of staff/hours, print and broadcast media work, and printed materials on the benefits.
§ Mr. HanleyA comprehensive publicity programme is planned to launch disability living allowance and disability working allowance in Northern Ireland. This will complement national advertising and will include local television commercials, advertisements in both the press and specialist publications for general practitioners, consultants and other health professionals. Education and awareness programmes aimed at carers, advisers, health professionals and the social security office staff will also run throughout 1992.
698WThe Social Security Agency has established a communications team to take forward the publicity and education and awareness programmes. Leaflets explaining basic entitlement and eligibility criteria for the new benefits and the dates from which new claims will be accepted have been sent to organisations concerned with disabled people. A special disability living allowance leaflet for potential claimants with a tear-off coupon to obtain the claim pack will be available in post offices and social security offices from the end of January 1992. The disability working allowance claim pack will be available from the same sources from February 1992.
The Social Security Agency will be writing to people who are currently getting mobility allowance and/or attendance allowance to tell them that they will be transferred automatically in April to disability living allowance at the same rate of benefit and to inform them how to claim extra help if they think they are eligible. A benefits inquiry line will be established to provide specific information about the new benefits and where a caller is experiencing difficulty completing a claim form arrangements can be made for an officer to visit his or her home.
Information about the cost of these measures is not readily available.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the projected targets of people to be in receipt of disability working allowances in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
§ Mr. HanleyIt is estimated that by October 1992 approximately 1,700 people in Northern Ireland will be in receipt of disability working allowance and that this will increase to around 1,900 by October 1993. A further increase for 1994 is not anticipated at present.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people he expects to be in receipt of disability living allowance on its introduction in April; and how many people currently receive attendance allowance and mobility allowance.
§ Mr. HanleyThe total numbers of people in Northern Ireland in receipt of attendance allowance and mobility allowance at the latest date for which information is available are 37,991 and 16,600 respectively.
It is estimated that some 32,600 attendance allowance and mobility allowance recipients will transfer automatically to disability living allowance when it is introduced on 6 April 1992. Additionally it is estimated that in the first year around 9,500 disabled people who currently do not get either attendance allowance or mobility allowance will qualify for the new benefit.