§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans his Department has to review the operation of the disability living allowance, in1570W particular the methods for resolving contradictions between medical reports provided by GPs and departmentally approved doctors; [69278]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of applicants who have been refused disability living allowance on grounds of ability to work who have subsequently managed to gain employment in each of the last five years, [69280]
(3) how many people were (a) awarded and (b) refused (i) disability living allowance, (ii) attendance allowance and (iii) incapacity benefit on initial application in each of the last 10 years; [70076]
(4) how many people were awarded (a) disability living allowance, (b) attendance allowance and (c) incapacity benefit on (i) review of initial application and (ii) appeal of initial application in each of the last 10 years. [70077]
§ Maria Eagle[holding answer 16 July 2002]: The role of the Departmental approved doctor differs from the more familiar role of the GP, whose primary function is to make a diagnosis and arrange treatment. The Departmental doctor is a medical analyst who has received special training and is therefore able to provide a fully explained opinion of the person's functional ability, within the framework of the relevant legislation. Such opinion, together with any other evidence considered necessary, enables the Department to make an informed decision as to whether a person satisfies the criteria for entitlement to the benefit.
The Department is aware of, and has taken account of, concerns expressed by GPs about difficulties in answering the functionally-based questions, such as how far someone can walk and whether they can prepare a main meal, currently contained in reports. Subject to satisfactory evaluation of trials we intend to introduce a new GP report, which asks for purely factual clinical information. The introduction of the new report will be accompanied by training for Decision Makers covering most appropriate sources of evidence, the interpretation of such evidence and how to resolve conflict in the evidence.
Disability Living Allowance can be paid to severely disabled people both in and out of work. Entitlement depends on the extent to which a person needs help with personal care, needs supervision or has difficulties with walking. There have therefore been no applicants who have been refused Disability Living Allowance on grounds of ability to work.
1571WThe available information is in the table.
Numbers of claims for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and Incapacity Benefit awarded and disallowed each year from 1992–93 Disability Living1 Allowance Attendance1 Allowance Incapacity Benefit2 Year Awarded Disallowed Awarded Disallowed Awarded 3 Disallowed4 March 1992-February 1993 277,150 208,730 379,455 119,300 March 1993-February 1994 212,735 213,440 323,495 132,785 March 1994-February 1995 232,795 256,410 334,405 146,925 March 1995-February 1996 247,890 255,280 331,405 134,570 March 1996-February 1997 239,670 276,125 319,900 137,160 495,600 441,530 March 1997-February 1998 211,250 255,710 296,170 116,810 455,400 434,725 March 1998-February 1999 175,600 208,200 292,555 104,260 410,000 396,840 March 1999-February 2000 181,040 190,390 281,450 96,815 380,000 396,280 March 2000-February 2001 211,340 206,145 316,675 103,115 388,700 376,655 March 2001-February 2002 211,190 192,320 292,140 89,130 359,900 355,765 Notes:
1ASD Information Centre, 100 per cent. data rounded to nearest five.
2Incapacity. Benefit was introduced in April 1995. Figures for Incapacity Benefit may include a small number of overseas cases.
3PSCS computer system, 5 per cent. data rounded to nearest hundred. Figures include awards of all types except "credits only" and some cases which are returned to the computer system with a new start date. They exclude a small number of clerically held cases and late notifications on to the system.
4PSCS computer system. 100 per cent. data rounded to nearest five. Figures include cases where the claimant has failed the contribution conditions but may be awarded "credits only". They exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
The available information is in the table. Following the introduction of the new system of decision making and appeals in October 1999, the number of appeals-received on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) cases increased significantly. The number of appeals upheld by tribunals also increased. Initial awards of Incapacity Benefit depend principally on submission of a medical certificate and satisfaction of the
Disability Living1 Allowance Attendance1 Allowance Incapacity Benefit2 Year Awards on review3 Awards on appeal Awards on review3 Awards on appeal Appeals found in favour of appellant March 1992-February 1993 * * * * * March 1993-February 1994 40,700 6,200 * * * March 1994-February 1995 40,000 10,200 * * * March 1995-February 1996 41,300 11,800 * * * March 1996-February 1997 39,200 13,200 33,400 2,700 * March 1997-February 1998 37,700 13,100 24,700 2,700 * March 1998-February 1999 27,000 15,400 17,100 3,200 * March 1999-February 2000 24,500 15,900 14,500 2,400 * March 2000-February 2001 16,600 25,900 10,500 5,200 15,555 March 2001-February 2002 10,4004 24,2004 6,4004 4,5004 14,520 Notes:
*Not available
1ASD Information Centre, five per cent. data rounded to nearest hundred.
5Generic Appeals Processing System (GAPS), 100 per cent. data rounded to nearest five. Figures refer to all types of appeal and are not available prior to 2000 as a change in the method of recording the type of appeal in GAPS, as part of the introduction of the new system of decision making and appeals, resulted in certain benefits being mapped incorrectly.
6Figures include awards following reconsiderations under the new system of decision making and appeals.
7. Latest available data to 30 November 2001.
§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) by how many adults have received the income support enhanced disability premium since April 2001. [70823]
(2) how many families have received the income support enhanced disability premium in respect of a disabled child since April 2001; [70824]
1572WNational Insurance contribution conditions, and there is no formal review process comparable with that for DLA and AA.
Numbers of awards of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance on review and appeal each year from 1992–93, and numbers of appeals involving Incapacity Benefit which were found in favour of the appellant
(3) what the overall expenditure has been on the enhanced disability premium in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit since April 2001. [70825]
§ Malcolm WicksThe available information on recipients of the Income Support enhanced disability and disabled child premia is in the table.
1573W
Thousands Quarter People receiving the enhanced disability premium People receiving the enhanced disabled child premium May 2001 119.5 31.2 August 2001 123.3 32.8 November 2001 126.6 34.1 February 2002 128.6 34.7 Source:
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 2001 to February 2002.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.
2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and subject to a degree of sampling variation.
3. Figures represent a snapshot of people receiving the relevant premium at the time the sample was taken and do not therefore show the cumulative number of recipients.
Since April 2001, expenditure on the enhanced disability and disabled child premia in Income Support is estimated to have been £100 million. Equivalent figures for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are not currently available.
Source:
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 2001 to February 2002.
Notes:
1. Estimate is derived from the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries.
2. Figure is rounded to the nearest £5 million.
3. Figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample and subject to a degree of sampling variation.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the purpose is of the six month period between a grant of higher rate disability living allowance and the commencement of payments; and if he will make a statement; [71649]
(2) if he will estimate the cost of abolishing the six month period between qualification and payment of higher rate disability living allowance in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [71650]
§ Maria EagleDisability Living Allowance is a contribution towards the extra costs incurred by people who have long-term severe disabilities. Disability Living Allowance is paid from the date from which it is awarded. There is no delay of six months or any other period and, hence, the circumstances cited by the hon. Member do not arise.
However, Disability Living Allowance cannot he awarded unless a severely disabled person has satisfied the conditions of entitlement for a period of at least three months and is likely to continue to satisfy them for a further period of at least six months. In some cases, therefore, people can be notified that they have been awarded Disability Living Allowance from a prospective date and the payment will start from that date. These qualifying rules establish that the severe disability and the extra costs arising from it are of a long-term nature and ensure that Disability Living Allowance is only awarded to people with long-term severe disabilities.
1574W
§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled children aged(a) three and (b) four years have been awarded disability living allowance higher rate mobility components since April 2001, and how much this costs. [70819]
§ Maria EagleThe latest available information, based on a five per cent sample taken on 28 February 2002, is that about 3,100 disabled children aged three and approximately 3,500 aged four are receiving higher-rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance. This represents a total annual expenditure of around £13.5 million.