§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what benefits are currently available to terminally ill people in hospices or nursing homes;
(2) what was the value of each benefit available to terminally ill people in hospices or nursing homes in each of the last 10 years; and how many people claimed each of those benefits in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. BurtA wide range of benefits is available to terminally ill people in hospices or nursing homes, provided they meet the conditions of entitlement. Special higher levels of income support are available to people who were in residential care and nursing homes, including hospices which make a charge, at 31 March 1993. The maximum level which applies for such people who are terminally ill in nursing homes is currently £280 a week (£315 in London) plus personal expenses of £12.65. For details of this I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 18 January at columns106–107. The income support entitlement of people entering homes since 1 April 1993 includes a residential allowance of £45 (£50 in London).
Information about the value and the numbers of recipients of each benefit is not available in the form requested.
Full information about eligibility to benefits is made widely available by the Benefits Agency in a variety of forms including leaflets and various confidential free telephone advice lines.