HC Deb 25 January 1993 vol 217 cc580-2W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his best estimate of the cost of continuing payment of invalid care allowance for a period of(a) eight weeks and (b) six months after their caring responsibilities come to an end to carers who have been receiving invalid care allowance for more than one year.

Mr. Scott

The estimated cost of continuing payment of invalid care allowance after caring ceases to carers who have been receiving the benefit for more than one year is £5 million for eight weeks and £16 million for six months.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will review the present rules governing carer premium and carers over the age of 65.

Mr. Burt

The carer premium is linked to entitlement to invalid care allowance and is primarily intended to give additional help to younger carers, many of whom previously had no premium. Additional help is given to people over 60 through the pensioner premiums. We have no plans to extend the carer premium to people who are unable to establish entitlement to invalid care allowance on age grounds.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many carers aged over 65 years receive(a) invalid care allowance and (b) the carer premium; and what proposals he has to increase the amount of financial support for older carers.

Mr. Scott

At 31 December 1992, 288 men over age 65 and 9,028 women over age 60 were receiving invalid care allowance. Separate figures are not held on the numbers of carers over age 65 who receive carer premium. We have no plans to increase the amount of financial support for older carers.

Note: Separate figures are not available for female carers over age 65.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department spends on invalid care allowance and the carer premium; and what percentage of the total social security budget this figure makes up.

Mr. Scott

Expenditure on invalid care allowance and the carer premium was £262 million and £15.5 million respectively in 1991–92. This represents 0.02 per cent. of the total social security budget for that year.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much it would cost his Department to restore national insurance credits for short-term benefits through invalid care allowance.

Mr. Scott

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 18 November 1992, at columns252–53.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he plans to initiate a take-up campaign for invalid care allowance and the carer premium in light of the introduction of community care; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

The number of people in receipt of invalid care allowance continues to increase. We have no plans to initiate a take-up campaign at present, but we shall continue to monitor the situation.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he proposes to abolish the upper age limit for first claims of invalid care allowance.

Mr. Scott

We have no plans to do so.

Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently receive invalid care allowance; and what percentage this is of the total number of people caring for 35 hours or more each week.

Mr. Scott

At 31 December 1992, there were 189,000 people receiving invalid care allowance. Figures showing the total number of people who are caring for 35 hours or more each week are not available.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate for the number of carers who are entitled to the carer premium; and how many are actually paid it.

Mr. Burt

We estimate that about 70,000 people are entitled to the carer premium because they have invalid care allowance, or would have it but for the overlapping benefit rules, and are claiming income support, housing benefit or community charge benefit. Premiums are awarded in those benefits where the qualifying conditions are met, so this would also be our estimate of the numbers who have it included in the calculation of their benefit.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of national average earnings the current level of invalid care allowance is; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

The current rate of invalid care allowance is £32.55 which represents 10.69 per cent. of average national earnings. Invalid care allowance recipients may earn up to £40 a week, after deduction of allowable expenses, without affecting their entitlement. They may also be eligible to receive other social security benefits.

Note: Average national earnings figure for April 1992 is £304.60 (Source: New Earnings Survey).

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much it would cost his Department to extend eligibility for invalid care allowance to carers providing care and support for a person who receives the lower rate care component of disability living allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people would benefit and what is his estimate of the cost of extending entitlement to invalid care allowance to those caring for a person who receives the lower rate care component of disability living allowance.

Mr. Scott

I refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs Ewing) on 18 November 1992 at columns252–53, and to my reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) on 11 January 1993 at columns 676–77.

Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are(a) in receipt of and (b) estimated to be eligible for the carer premium; and what measures his Department is taking to increase take-up of the carer premium.

Mr. Burt

We estimate that about 70,000 people are currently eligible for, and receiving, the carer premium in income support, housing benefit or community charge benefit because they have invalid care allowance, or would have it but for the overlapping benefit rules. It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the numbers who could become eligible for the premium were they to claim one or more of the benefits mentioned. The carer premium is already publicised in a number of ways and we continually monitor the provision of information about benefits.