HC Deb 15 June 1998 vol 314 cc111-4W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the numbers of people eligible for higher rate disability living allowance whose eligibility in respect of mobility has ceased as a result of the most recent changes. [44029]

Mr. Denham

There have been no recent changes in the conditions of entitlement for Disability Living Allowance. The purpose of the Benefit Integrity Project is to collect up to date information from claimants receiving the higher rate of the mobility component, with either the highest or the middle rate of the care component, to ensure they are receiving their correct entitlement.

As of 31 March, 72,470 Disability Living Allowance (DLA) cases had been examined under the Benefit Integrity Project. This included 14,815 renewal claims following the expiry of a fixed period award. Entitlement to the higher rate of the mobility component ceased in 6,540 cases, including 3,336 renewal claims where the mobility component was not re-awarded.

A copy of the Benefit Integrity Project statistics up to 31 March is in the Library.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when reviews take place of eligibility for disability living allowance; and what procedures are followed in order to ensure that consultations take place with the recipient's GP(a) before the test of eligibility and (b) after the test and before a decision is made. [44145]

Mr. Denham

The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Dr. Vincent Cable, dated 11 June 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when reviews take place of eligibility for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and what procedures are followed in order to ensure that consultations take place with the recipient's GP (a) before the test of eligibility and (b) after the test and before a decision is made. Each claim for DLA is considered very carefully before a decision is made about entitlement to the allowance. Claims are assessed individually and decisions are only made when it is felt that all the necessary evidence is available. Entitlement to DLA depends on the effects the disability has on the person's life and not on the particular disability or illness itself. It is recognised that the person best able to provide this information is the customer or their representative. It is for independent Adjudication Officers (AOs) to decide if further information is required to enable them to decide on entitlement to DLA and also from where this is obtained. A customer can request a review if they are dissatisfied with the decision on entitlement to benefit. A review may also be instigated when there is sufficient up to date information to show that there has been a change in a customer's circumstances which may affect eligibility for benefit, or doubt has arisen as to whether the original decision to award benefit was correct. As you may be aware, the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) is a programme of reviews by postal enquiry and home visit to seek up to date information about the care and mobility needs of DLA customers receiving the higher rate mobility component with either the middle or highest rate care component. A customer's General Practitioner will not always be consulted before a person's eligibility for benefit is reviewed. The AO will obtain further information from the most appropriate source, which may be the GP. Alternative sources of information are the customer's carer or an Examining Medical Practitioner (EMP). EMPs have a wide experience of general medicine. They are given specific training in the benefits concerned and in the completion of the detailed forms involved. EMPs gather information for the AOs on the likely care and mobility requirements arising from common disabilities. Guidance for AOs on the most appropriate sources of further information is provided in the Disability Handbook which is produced in consultation with the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board and groups representing disabled people. Guidance is also provided to staff by Medical Advisors who work for the Benefits Agency Medical Services. I hope that this is helpful.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what medical qualifications are required of medical examiners carrying out tests of eligibility for disability living allowance. [44141]

Mr. Denham

The administration of the Benefits Agency Medical Services is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Dr. Vincent Cable, dated 11 June 1998: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what medical qualifications are required of medical examiners carrying out tests of eligibility for Disability Living Allowance (DLA). It may be helpful if I explain that claims for benefit are decided by independent adjudicating authorities. Neither Ministers nor officials of the Benefits Agency, including examining doctors, can intervene in or alter their decisions. For their part, the adjudicating authorities are bound by the provisions of legislation. For DLA, the adjudicating authorities are the Adjudication Officer (AO), the Disability Appeal Tribunal (DAT), and the Social Security Commissioner. Therefore medical examiners employed by Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS), or who provide their services on a self employed basis, do not decide eligibility for any social security benefit. Rather, they act as a specialist medical disability analyst who provides information to the AO on the customer's ability to perform particular functions associated with work or on the customer's care and mobility needs. All BAMS' medical examiners are required to hold a full medical degree and must be fully registered medical practitioners. BAMS also require their doctors to normally have at least three years post registration experience, including one year in general practice and at least six months experience of psychiatry or rehabilitation/occupational medicine. Alternatively BAMS require five years post registration experience as a principal (or equivalent) in general practice. BAMS doctors also receive specific training in relation to the type of work they carry out for the BA Medical Services. I hope this reply is helpful.

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to raise awareness of disability living allowance and of entitlement to the benefit amongst the public; and if she will make a statement. [45189]

Mr. Denham

Since the introduction of Disability Living Allowance the number of people receiving the benefit has almost doubled, from just over one million in 1992–93 to almost two million in 1997–98, and the expenditure has risen from £2.2 billion to £5 billion at 1997–98 prices. Nevertheless, we are concerned about the recently published provisional estimates of take-up from the disability follow-up to the Family Resources Survey, and this was discussed in the Social Security Select Committee inquiry whose report was published on 13 May 1998. Discussions have already begun with disability organisations to establish the reasons for the apparent low take-up figures, and the new Disability Benefits Forum will provide for on-going debate. A number of positive steps have been taken by the Benefits Agency to raise awareness and the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency will write to the hon. Member separately about this.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 11 June 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, about what plans she has to raise awareness of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and of entitlement to the benefit amongst the public. There are two leaflets available, which provide information on the entitlement to benefit. Leaflet DS704 provides general information on DLA and DS706 provides information on DLA for children. Both these leaflets are available from the Disability Benefits Directorate, District Offices, and Intermediary Advisors, for example Welfare Rights Organisations. There are also a core series of BA leaflets which provide more general information on disability benefits. These leaflets are currently under review in order to ensure the material is more accessible to customers, and the first set of products is due to be launched around October 1998. In addition to the above, the Disability Claim Pack, Charter Standard Statement and all other correspondence or forms issued to customers about DLA can be converted into braille, and the Charter Standard Statement is also available on cassette tape. Information can be provided in large print for those customers with a visual impairment. Customers with hearing or speech difficulties, who have the use of a text phone and require information on DLA can use the Text Phone service which is provided by the Disability Benefits Directorate Customer Care Helpline. Minicom facilities and LOOP systems are also available at the BA's regional Disability Benefit Centre's and the DBU. A video incorporating British Sign language and subtitles, entitled DV3 (Sickness & Disabled), is available, which provides information on DLA and other Sickness Benefits. The BA is continually seeking to improve the service it offers to its customers in order to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are met in full. You may also wish to know that the BA has an Internet site on the World Wide Web. This is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at WWW.DSS.GOV.UK I hope you find this reply helpful.