Invalid Care Allowance

HC Deb 15 March 1999 vol 327 cc484-5W

Mr. Bendel

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance; and what proportion of carers this represents. [76450]

Mr. Bayley

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

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Rendel, dated 12 March 1999: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people are currently in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance; and what proportion of carers this represents. Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) is a benefit for people of working age who are regularly caring for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week. As at 10 March 1999 374,241 people were in receipt of the allowance. Unfortunately, information about numbers of recipients as a proportion of carers who fulfil the ICA eligibility conditions is not available. I am sorry I could not, on this occasion, be more helpful.