Mr. HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what transitional protection will be afforded to non—employed status trainees hitherto eligible to benefit under his Department's analogous industrial injuries scheme, following the enactment of the Social Security (Incapacity For Work) Act 1994; and what transitional arrangements will apply for participants in other schemes funded through his Department and affected by this legislation.
§ Mr. PaiceWith effect from 13 April 1995, non-employed status participants who are injured, or who contract a prescribed disease, will need to make their initial claim to the Department of Social Security. Where a trainee does not satisfy the contribution requirements for the receipt of incapacity benefit, income support can be claimed.
Payment of disablement benefit and severe disablement allowance is unaltered by the new legislation. Non—employed status participants who qualify for these benefits, whether adults or young people, will continue to receive equivalent payments through the Department under the analogous industrial injuries scheme.
The new arrangements are not retrospective. Payments to participants injured prior to 13 April 1995 will continue for as long as medical evidence confirms this to be necessary.