Invalid Care Allowance (Hansard, 14 February 1997)

§ Mr. Olner
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of raising the earnings limit for invalid care allowance to £61 in order to be credited for class 1 national insurance contributions. [15585]

§ Mr. Andrew Mitchell
The cost of changing the earnings limit for invalid care allowance to a gross earnings limit equal to the current lower earnings limit for class 1 national insurance contributions is estimated to be £5 million.
Notes:
1. Estimates are based on sample data and should be treated with caution.
2. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
Source:
Family Resources Survey 1994–95.

§ Mr. Olner
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to credit state earnings-related pension scheme contributions to carers receiving invalid care allowance. [15586]

§ Mr. Heald
The White Paper "Equality in State Pension Age" stated that the regulations to extend home responsibilities protection to SERPS would be made at the appropriate time.

§ Mr. Olner
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the cost of enabling carers over retirement age to receive invalid care allowance; [15587]
(2) if he will estimate the cost of allowing new claims for carers premium to be made for those over retirement age. [15588]

§ Mr. Mitchell
The estimated cost of allowing new claims for invalid care allowance from those aged over 65 is £20 million for 1996–97, of which £10 million would be accounted for by increased receipt of the carer premium.
Notes:
1. Estimates are based on sample data and should be treated with caution.
2. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
source:
Family Resources Survey 1994–95.