§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the(a) cost and (b) number of beneficiaries of extending entitlement to invalid care allowance to people who would otherwise be entitled but (i) earn less than the national insurance lower earnings limit, but whose earnings exceed the earnings limit for ICA, (ii) are aged over 65 years and (iii) are aged over 65 or earn less than the national insurance lower earnings limit in each of the next five years. [124417]
§ Mr. BayleyThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.224W
Estimated cost of the abolition of the upper age limit for claiming Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) Cost (£ million) Gainers (Thousand) 2001–02 25 40 2002–03 25 40 2003–04 25 40 2004–05 25 40 2005–06 30 40 Notes:
1. Costs are given in cash prices. Costs rounded to the nearest 5 million, gainers to the nearest 10,000.
2. Estimates are based on Family Resources Survey 1997–98 and 1998–99, and caseload forecasts.
3. As estimates are based on survey data, the above will be subject to sampling error. The limitations of modelling entitlement from available survey data on the number of hours that individuals spend providing care mean that the above are subject to a significant margin of error.
4. It is assumed that all existing ICA entitlement rules remain in place after any abolition of the upper age limit for new claims. Costs include the effects on Income Support carer premium.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the(a) cost and (b) number of beneficiaries continuing to pay for invalid care allowance (i) after the person cared for dies, (ii) after the person cared for enters permanent residential care and (iii) after care ends, for (1) four weeks and (2) eight weeks in each of the next five years. [124415]
§ Mr. BayleyNo information is available on the numbers/costs of an Invalid Care Allowance run-on when the disabled person enters residential care. Information on the other questions is shown in the tables.
The estimated costs and number of gainers from a four week run-on after death of the disabled person Year Costs (£ million) Gainers 2001–02 1 10,000 2002–03 1 10,000 2003–04 1 15,000 2004–05 1 15,000 2005–06 1 15,000
The estimated costs and number of gainers from an eight week run-on after death of the disabled person Year Costs (£ million) Gainers 2001–02 2 10,000 2002–03 2 10,000 2003–04 2 15,000 2004–05 2 15,000 2005–06 2 15,000 225W
The estimated costs and gainers of a four week run-on when care ceases for any reason Year Costs (£ million) Gainers 2001–02 11 50,000 2002–03 12 50,000 2003–04 13 50,000 2004–05 14 55,000 2005–06 15 60,000
The estimated Costs and gainers from an eight week run-on when care ceases for any reason Year Costs (£ million) Gainers 2001–02 22 50,000 2002–03 24 50,000 2003–04 25 50,000 2004–05 27 55,000 2005–06 29 60,000 Note:
Costs are rounded to the nearest £ million and gainers to the nearest 5,000.