Severe Disability Allowance

HC Deb 21 June 1996 vol 279 cc626-7W

Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances the Department reclaims overpayments from the estates of deceased severe disability allowance beneficiaries; and what duty it has to make payments to estates in cases of underpayment. [33329]

Mr. Roger Evans

There are general principles governing the recovery of overpayments of benefit and the payment of arrears in cases where the claimant had died. Income support and the severe disability premium are covered by these principles.

If an overpayment is caused by misrepresentation or failure to disclose a material fact, recovery is sought in appropriate cases. Recovery from the estate of a deceased claimant is considered only if a recoverable overpayment is outstanding or an overpayment is discovered due to non-disclosure of assets, after death.

Where arrears of benefit are identified as being due to a claimant but that claimant is deceased, provision exists for the arrears to be paid to the person who, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, is entitled to the payment.