§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of carers allowance have lost it on reaching pensionable age in each year since 1997; and what assistance he gives to pensioner carers. [40566]
§ Malcolm WicksThe number of cases where payment of invalid care allowance has ceased to customers who have attained pensionable age is as follows:
Year Number 1997 6,070 1998 6,143 To 30 September 19991 4,877 1 The figures are not available for periods after September 1999 due to a change in recording statistics. Proposals are before the Parliamentary Deregulation Committees, which, if accepted, will allow carers, aged 65 or over to claim invalid care allowance for the first time. This will allow some carers to receive invalid care allowance and many more to have access to the carer premium, payable with the minimum income guarantee, which is currently worth £24.40 a week.