§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will uprate benefits made available to purchase domiciliary care, to take VAT into account.
§ Mr. BurtThere are no benefits that are specifically to cover the cost of domiciliary care: it is up to the individual to decide how best to spend any benefit he receives. However, attendance allowance and the care components of disability living allowance are available to people who need personal care. Similarly, the severe disability premium in income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit is available to severely disabled people who live alone and who are, therefore, likely to need to buy in care. These benefits are uprated regularly and the indices used reflect the movement in prices, inclusive of VAT.