§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of claimants of invalidity benefit who are(a) terminally ill or (b) in receipt of the highest rate care component of disability living allowance.
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§ Mr. HagueInformation in the form requested is not available. We estimate that around 25,000 people of working age become terminally ill each year although not all will qualify for incapacity benefits, some will be in receipt of statutory sick pay and others will not satisfy the contribution conditions. We estimate that up to 10,000 people who are receiving the higher rate care component of disability living allowance may claim incapacity benefits each year.