HC Deb 01 December 1993 vol 233 cc594-5W
Mr. McMaster

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was his original estimate of the number of people who would be in employment as a result of the disability working allowance once the scheme was fully operational; what is the current figure; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

The original estimate that about 50,000 people might be entitled to DWA was based on surveys of disabled people carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. The current case load is 3,176. New benefits can, of course, be expected to take a period of years to become established and so the original estimate has not been revised.

Ms Hoey

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what special rules for the terminally ill still apply for claimants of disability living allowance.

Mr. Scott

Special arrangements ensure that people with a limited life expectancy of six months or less are awarded the highest rate of the care component of disability living allowance, or the higher rate of attendance allowance, whether or not they have care needs, and without having to serve a qualifying period. Such claims are handled under special administrative procedures to ensure a speedy response.

It is also possible for a third party to make a claim on behalf of the terminally ill person, with or without that person's knowledge.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons over the age of 65 years claim both mobility component disability living allowance and care component disability living allowance or mobility component disability living allowance and attendance allowance.

Mr. Scott

The information requested is not available because the age of the claimant is not recorded unless the claim is successful.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many persons over the age of 65 years are in receipt of attendance allowance or disability living allowance care component;

(2) how many persons over the age of 80 years are in receipt of attendance allowance or disability living allowance care component;

(3) how many persons over 65 years receive mobility component disability living allowance.

Mr. Scott

We estimate that on 31 March 1993 there were 929,000 people over the age of 65 getting the care component of disability living allowance or attendance allowance; of these, 507,000 were over 80 years of age. We also estimate that 228,000 people over the age of 65 were getting the mobility component of disability living allowance.

Note: For attendance allowance the source to determine age is a 1 per cent. sample used to adjust and apportion the AA pay load by age. For disability living allowance the source is a 5 per cent. sample.