Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Scotland claiming (a) disability living allowance and (b) carer's allowance have been affected by the 84-day rule in each of the last three years.

We estimate that at any point in time fewer than 10 individuals in Scotland would have been affected by the 84 day hospital suspension rule in Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Similarly, the number of Carers affected in Scotland is also estimated to have been fewer than 10 at any point in time.

The Department has amended the DLA regulations so that children in receipt of DLA who enter hospital no longer have their payments suspended if their hospital stay exceeds 84 days. Similar changes have also been made in the Personal Independence Payment regulations, meaning that anyone who enters hospital before their 18^th birthday no longer has their payments suspended as a result of their hospital stay.

Carers of children in hospital can continue to receive Carer’s Allowance after the 84 day point providing they meet the Carer’s Allowance conditions, including providing care for at least 35 hours a week.