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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 9th MARCH 2010
Question
Will the Minister explain to members what measures, if any, are in place after July 2011, to protect those with severe disabilities previously eligible for Attendance Allowance (whether child or adult), from any reduction in benefit under Income Support designed to cater for the additional living costs attached to such disabilities?
Answer
With the introduction of the Income Support (IS) scheme individuals with severe disabilities who received Attendance Allowance under the previous system were transferred to IS with personal care level 3 (subject to review as conditions may change). The component value of personal care level 3 is now £140.91 weekly (an increase of 14.7% since January 2008). A range of personal care components are available to all IS claimants with personal care needs.
Benefit | As at | Weekly Component value |
Attendance Allowance | 27 January 2008 | £102.62 |
Personal Care Level 3 | 28 January 2008 | £122.85 |
Personal Care Level 3 | 1 May 2008 | £126.56 |
Personal Care Level 3 | 1 October 2008 | £131.25 |
Personal Care Level 3 | 1 February 2009 | £138.25 |
Personal Care Level 3 | 1 October 2009 | £140.91 |
Transition protection was awarded to families whose entitlement to IS was less than the total value of their previous benefits. Families who transferred from the Attendance Allowance system to IS are receiving the most generous phasing within the protected transition scheme which is maintained at 100% until 30th June 2011, after which it will reduce by 20% per annum from 1st July 2011 as shown in the table below.
Period % Reduction in top up sum 28 January 2008 to 30 September 2010 100 %
1 October 2010 to 30 June 2011 100%
1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012 80%
1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 60%
1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 40%
1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 20%
As Members are aware there is already a full review of the IS scheme scheduled to commence during the second half of 2010 and the treatment of individuals with disabilities will be included as part of this review.