§ 27. Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she will respond to the fourth report of the Social Security Committee on disability living allowance (HC 641). [42954]
§ Mr. DenhamWe will be making a full response to the Social Security Select Committee's report in due course and in doing so we will adhere to the usual conventions set out by the Procedure Committee.
§ 31. Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been taken off disability benefit in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [42958]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information is not available in the format requested. 269,000 Attendance Allowance awards and 145,000 Disability Living Allowance awards ceased in the 12 months ending April 1998.
Information is not available on the reasons for cessation, but these will include death, absence abroad, and non-renewal of a fixed period award, as well as withdrawal where the benefits agency found that the conditions of entitlement were no longer satisfied.
Note:
Figures based on 100 per cent. data, rounded to the nearest thousand.
471W
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the percentage of people who, following a review, are denied the care component payments of the disability living allowance; how many of these people are terminally ill; and if she will make a statement. [44398]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.
Disability living allowance review decisions in 1997–98 Decisions Amount All Decisions 370,054 Review allowed1 44,288 Award increased2 90,075 Other decisions3 235,691 Notes:
1 Reviews within three months of the original decision determined in the claimant's favour
2 Reviews where there are relevant changes in circumstances and the rates of either component increased
3 Cases where benefit is disallowed, decreased or unchanged
Source:
Analytical Services Division: 100 per cent. data
DLA terminally ill cases1 Cases 1996–972 21997–98 Cleared3 26,890 23,907 Awarded on initial claim4 24,830 22,160 Awarded on review4 5,760 4,380 1 Figures relate to terminally ill cases which are classed as 'special rule'. For these cases the three month qualifying period is not required and processing takes priority over other cases 2 Figures relate to 12 months ending February Note:
The cleared figure which relates to initial claims only, includes people awarded benefit, disallowed benefit and also cases withdrawn before being decided. These figures indicate that the success rate for terminal ill claimants is high
Sources:
3 Analytical Services Division: 100 per cent. data
4 Analytical Services Division: 5 per cent. data
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions she has had with medical authorities regarding terminally-ill people who are denied the care component element of disability living allowance; and if she will make a statement. [44404]
§ Mr. DenhamNone. When a claim is received and the information contained on the medical condition is not sufficient to determine the claim, advice is sought from Benefits Agency Medical Service doctors. They will consult with the claimant's General Practitioner, Consultant or other health professional to ascertain the nature of the condition and the effects on that person's needs.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to reform the process of awarding the care component element of disability living allowance; and if she will make a statement. [44405]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Green Paper, "New ambitions for our country: A new contract for welfare", published on 26 March makes clear our commitment to the principle of providing special allowances to help with the extra costs of disability. We will maintain Disability Living472W Allowance and Attendance Allowance as universal national benefits for those who meet the conditions of entitlement. These benefits will not be means tested.
We have also given a clear commitment that, in taking forward any proposals to change these benefits, we will consult disabled people, their organisations and others with an interest. For this reason, we are setting up a new Disability Benefits Forum with organisations of and for disabled people, to discuss how the system can be reformed to ensure that benefits go to those who need them. Details of the Forum will be published shortly.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the impact of the review system for terminally ill people receiving the care component of disability living allowance; and if she will make a statement. [44406]
§ Mr. DenhamProcedures are already in place to fast track initial claims and any subsequent review requests from people who are terminally ill.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what factors are taken into account when assessing whether a claimant is entitled to receive the care component of disability living allowance. [44407]
§ Mr. DenhamThe factors taken into account are the effects of a person's disability on their day to day life as described in their self-reporting claim form. Information provided by a person's General Practitioner and/or hospital consultant or other health professional is also factored into these considerations. Adjudication Officers consult Benefits Agency Medical Services doctors on the nature and effects of disabilities. Information is also available to Adjudication Officers in the Disability Handbook which is compiled by senior doctors of this Department and approved and monitored by the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board.