§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of the British welfare benefits are classed as(a) social security and (b) social assistance benefits for European Economic Area purposes.
§ Mr. BurtFor EEA purposes, social security benefits are those which are designed to meet the specific contingencies listed in article 4(1) of regulation (EEC) No. 1408/71 on social security for migrant workers. The social security benefits for which this Department has responsibility are listed below. The definition also covers benefits in kind—that is, health care—provided by the national health service.
- Child Benefit
- Guardian's Allowance
- Maternity Benefit
- Sickness Benefit
- Unemployment Benefit
- Family Credit
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- One Parent Benefit
- Invalidity Benefit
- Retirement Pension
- Statutory Sick Pay
- Widow's Benefits
Social assistance is not defined in EC legislation but is generally interpreted as covering non-contributory schemes which are often means-tested and based on individual need rather than specific contingencies.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proposals he has to make disability living allowance more accessible for those with learning difficulties.
(2) what proposals he has to make access to disability living allowance more equitable for those with a mental illness.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 19 May 1994, c. 539]: Owing to a clerical error a phrase was inadvertently omitted. The reply should have been as follows:
None. Entitlement to disability living allowance is intended to depend on the care and mobility needs arising from a particular 368W condition, rather than on the condition itself. Access to DLA is available to all disabled people through the claiming process. The Benefits Agency provide support services to assist people in making a claim.