§ Mr. HeppellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which benefits for people with disabilities are denied to anyone over 65 years of age.
§ Mr. ScottDisability living allowance (DLA) may be claimed up to a person's 66th birthday, providing that the disability occurred before his or her 65th birthday. There is no upper age limit for receipt: once awarded, the benefit may remain payable indefinitely. Attendance allowance is available to people becoming disabled after age 65, or claiming after age 66.
The provisions of the following benefits change at ages 60 or 65 for women and ages 65 or 70 for men, to take account of the ending of an individual's liability to pay national insurance contributions and the availability of retirement pension.
On sickness and invalidity benefits, from age 60 for women and age 65 for men the standard rates of benefit are replaced by the rate at which retirement pension would be payable—abated by 5 per cent. in the case of sickness benefit. The upper age limit for receipt of benefit is 64 for women and 69 for men.
On severe disablement allowance, the upper age limit for claims is 59 for women and 64 for men, although currently women aged 60-64 are also able to claim as a result of a decision by the Court of Appeal. Once awarded, benefit is payable for life if the qualifying conditions continue to be satisfied up to age 65 for women or age 70 for men.
On industrial injuries benefits, from age 60 for women and age 65 for men, people who are receiving reduced earnings allowance and who give up regular employment are paid retirement allowance. Retirement allowance is payable for life.
On war pensions, the upper age limit for qualifying for unemployability supplement and allowance for lowered standard of occupation is 59 for women and 64 for men. Once entitlement has been established, however, both can continue for life.
§ Sir John HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) community charge benefit, were in receipt of severe disability premium as of 31 March.