§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to begin monitoring the most cost-effective ways of keeping in contact with people on incapacity benefit; and when he expects to be able to report on these experiments. [58132]
§ Mr. TimmsCurrently, contact with people receiving Incapacity Benefit is limited to occasional checks on their level of incapacity. We believe the current system too often consigns people to a life on benefit and we want to maintain closer contact with them throughout their claim. In this way, we can ensure we are up to date about their circumstances, and provide them with advice; for example about the help available with return to work and about the benefits to which they may be entitled. We will try out different methods of contacting people and consider how best to develop the methods which seem most helpful and successful. We consider this to be no more than good practice and do not plan a formal report on it.
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if those individuals drawing private health insurance which has been individually arranged may continue to draw incapacity benefit under the current rules. [58134]
§ Mr. TimmsAs our Consultation Paper "A New Contract for Welfare: Support for Disabled People" made clear we propose, on future claims to Incapacity Benefit, to take some account of payments from permanent health insurance arranged by employers, as well as occupational and personal pensions. We have no plans to take account of permanent health insurance or other forms of health insurance where this is arranged by the individual.