§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many invalid care allowance claimants have had payments of arrears of this benefit restricted to 12 months where an award of attendance allowance or disability living allowance to the person they are caring for has taken more than 12 months to determine;
(2) if he will trawl all existing invalid care allowance claims and awards to identify cases where payment of arrears of invalid care allowance has been restricted to a period of 12 months where the time taken to determine the related attendance allowance or disability living allowance claim has taken more than 12 months; and if he will make payment of invalid care allowance or a compensation payment for the further back period;
(3) if he will amend social security regulations to allow back payment of invalid care allowance for more than 12 months where a determination and award on a related claim for attendance allowance or disability living allowance has taken more than 12 months.
§ Mr. ScottTo date, 241 claimants have had their invalid care allowance arrears limited to the statutory 12 months due to delays by this Department in processing the related attendance allowance or disability living allowance claims. Such ICA claims were identified at the outset and all claimants have been, or will be, paid the equivalent of their ICA arrears in full by way of ex-gratia payments. Any similar claims will be dealt with in the same way.
There are no plans to amend the relevant legislation.