HC Deb 10 June 1993 vol 226 cc331-2W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many requests for a review of disability living allowance have been received to date by his Department; and how many and what percentage of awards were (a) maintained, (b) allowed, (c) disallowed, (d) increased, (e) varied, (f) reduced and (g) outstanding.

Mr. Scott

The information is in the table. The figures are for the period up to 31 May 1993 which are the most recent available.

Disability living allowance
Number of Reviews Percentage
Received 133,234
(a) Maintained (Original award upheld) 46,316 34.8
(b) Allowed (Original disallowance overturned) 28,926 21.7
(c) Disallowed (Original disallowance upheld) 3,794 2.8
(d) Increased (Original award increased) 11,501 8.6
(e) Varied (Rate of award unchanged but duration varied) 1,631 1.2
(f) Reduced (Original award reduced) 124 0.1
Others1 3,029 2.3
(g) Outstanding 37,913 28.5

Notes:

1 Others include reviews that are withdrawn, lapsed, defective or where there are no grounds for a review to be made.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of(a) disability premium and (b) severe disability premium at the latest available date.

Mr. Burt

The latest available information for income support relates to May 1992.1 At that time the number of people whose applicable amount included a disability premium was 425,000. The severe disability premium was included in 100,000 cases.

For housing benefit (HB) and community charge benefit (CCB) the latest information relates to May 1991.2 The number of HB and CCB cases not in receipt of income support with a disability premium or severe disability premium is in the table. Many CCB cases are also in receipt of HB.

Housing benefit cases Community charge benefit cases
With disability premium 163,000 217,000
With severe disability premium 15,000 26,000

Note:

1Source: Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiry, May 1992.

2Source: Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit Management Information System Annual Sample, May 1991.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the numbers of people who claimed disability living allowance or attendance allowance prior to 3 September 1992 who would have met the qualifying criteria for the former independent living fund but had still not been notified of the outcome of their claim for either of these benefits by 25 November 1992.

Mr. Scott

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate.