§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what conclusions he has reached on the recommendations of the 1992 Social Security Advisory Committee report "Options for Equality in State Pension Age" that(a) there should be a new premium with income support for those unemployed for more than two years and aged over 55 years and long-term sick or disabled aged over 55 years, (b) invalid care allowance should be extended to 65 years for women and (c) the relationship between invalidity benefit and retirement pension should be reviewed. [18483]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe Government have noted the comments of the 1992 Social Security Advisory Committee's proposals, including the three listed.
We have no plans to introduce a new premium in income support. The existing premium structure directs additional resources to those groups identified as having extra needs.
Regulations came into force on 28 October 1994 equalising the upper age limit for claiming invalid care allowance at 65 for both men and women.
Invalidity benefit was replaced by incapacity benefit on 13 April 1995. Entitlement to the long-term rate of incapacity benefit ends when a person reaches state pension age. We have no plans to change this condition.