§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Given the current levels of take-up of disability benefits, what research they have undertaken into why disabled people do not claim the benefits to which they are entitled. [HL1264]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)There are numerous reasons why people with potential entitlement to disability benefits do not claim them. Contributory factors include a lack of knowledge about the benefit, an anxiety not to be seen as "disabled", or a reluctance, particularly among older people, to claim assistance for what they may see as less severe disabilities, which would attract lower rates of benefit, or simply as the normal results of ageing. At the same time around 26 per cent of claims for attendance allowance and 40 per cent of claims for disability living allowance are unsuccessful because the claimant does not satisfy the qualifying conditions. And many people who do make claims are dissatisfied with the decision and ask for it to be reconsidered.
202WAAgainst this background, our priorities are to look at ways of improving the information we provide about these benefits and to make it easier for people to supply us with the details we need to decide entitlement. We are also trying to develop clearer and more secure gateways so that it is easier for people to know whether they may be entitled. These initiatives have involved extensive and continuing discussions with disabled people and their representatives and with disability experts.