Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (a) how many people were eligible to receive and (b) how many and what proportion of people were in receipt of carer's allowance in each local authority area on the latest date for which figures are available.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The information requested is published and available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistics-tabulation-tool
Guidance for users is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance
Proportions can then be calculated using the published figures for all entitled against those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received from people with Batten disease or their representatives; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
We have interpreted the question to mean how much correspondence the department has received relating to Battens Disease. The department does not record correspondence received by nature of Disease and so is unable to provide this information.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what medical conditions disability living allowance can be awarded to applicants indefinitely.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Entitlement to DLA is not based on the diagnosis of a disease or whether a person has a degenerative medical condition. DLA is awarded to people who have care and/.or mobility needs because of severe disability. Award lengths are set according to the extent that care and/or mobility needs may change over time. For those with a degenerative condition fixed term awards allow the Department to periodically review, and where necessary, increase the levels of financial support should care/mobility needs have increased.
Claims to DLA are dealt with by DWP decision makers, who refer to Departmental guidance the Children’s A-Z of Medical Conditions which sets out the main care and mobility needs likely to arise from different disabling conditions. If necessary, further information is gathered from health professionals dealing with the claimant, or in the case of a child, from their school.
DLA can be awarded indefinitely to any claimant depending on their individual circumstances.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on requiring applications to renew disability living allowance for people with degenerative medical conditions; and what evidence is used by assessors to confirm the degenerative nature of those conditions.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Entitlement to DLA is not based on the diagnosis of a disease or whether a person has a degenerative medical condition. DLA is awarded to people who have care and/.or mobility needs because of severe disability. Award lengths are set according to the extent that care and/or mobility needs may change over time. For those with a degenerative condition fixed term awards allow the Department to periodically review, and where necessary, increase the levels of financial support should care/mobility needs have increased.
Claims to DLA are dealt with by DWP decision makers, who refer to Departmental guidance the Children’s A-Z of Medical Conditions which sets out the main care and mobility needs likely to arise from different disabling conditions. If necessary, further information is gathered from health professionals dealing with the claimant, or in the case of a child, from their school.
DLA can be awarded indefinitely to any claimant depending on their individual circumstances.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that people diagnosed with Batten disease who have successfully applied for disability living allowance receive that allowance indefinitely without any need to renew their application.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
We have no plans to change current arrangements for dealing with claimants with Batten disease. As Batten disease is a progressive condition this means that care and mobility needs will change over time and it is in the interests of the child that we periodically review their claim to ensure the appropriate level of support is always available.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that people diagnosed with Batten disease receive the higher rate of disability living allowance from the point of diagnosis.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
We have no plans to change current arrangements for dealing with claimants with Batten disease. As Batten disease is a progressive condition this means that care and mobility needs will change over time and it is in the interests of the child that we periodically review their claim to ensure the appropriate level of support is always available.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received on requiring parents with multiple children diagnosed with the same medical condition to fill in a disability living allowance application for each child; and if he will bring forward proposals to require such parents to fill in only one application for all their children.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Our central records do not show that any representations have been made that parents should only have to fill in one application form for their children, Claims to benefits are individual, need may be different for different children at different stages of their illness. We have no plans to change current arrangements.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that people diagnosed with Batten disease receive the fast track service when applying for disability living allowance.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
We aim to clear all claims as quickly as possible. We do not specify which disabilities/diseases should receive a fast-track service. If someone is considered to be terminally ill, that is if their death can reasonably be expected within the next six months, they do not have to satisfy the usual three month qualifying period.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to tackle poverty among older people in the UK.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
This Government wants all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement. We are committed to the ‘triple lock’, the guarantee that the basic State Pension will increase by the highest of the growth in average earnings, price increases or 2.5%; and for the poorest pensioners, Pension Credit tops up income to a guaranteed minimum level of £151.20 for a single person and £230.85 for couples. We are protecting key benefits for older people including free eye tests, free NHS prescriptions, free bus passes, free television licences for those aged 75 and over, and Winter Fuel Payments.