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Disability Benefits

Volume 226: debated on Wednesday 16 June 1993

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To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) new disability living allowance claims and (b) top-up claims have been refused, broken down by the reasons for refusal, in each month since February 1992 at each disability benefit centre and for the country as a whole.

The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard the chief executive of the benefits agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 15 June 1993.

As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many (a) new disability living allowance claims and (b) top-up claims have been refused, broken down by the reasons for refusal, in each month since February 1992 at each disability benefit centre and for the country as a whole.

Firstly, it may be helpful for me to say at this stage that new Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claims are dealt with by the regional Disability Benefit Centres (DBCs) and top-up claims are dealt with by the Claims Conversion Unit (CCU).

Annex A shows a breakdown of the number of DLA claims that have been refused, and the reasons for refusal by DBC since February 1992.

A breakdown of refusals on top-up claims by DBC is not available. However, Annex B details the number of top-up claims that have been refused by the CCU, and the reasons for refusal.

I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

Annex A: Refusals on new claims for DLA by DBC February 1992

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh5032037
Newcastle57035092
Leeds19054073
Manchester10032042
Bootle3034037
Birmingham17016033
Bristol7026033
Cardiff11013024
Wembley33061094
Sutton21056077
Glasgow
Dlau Warbreck House10304
Other MUs
Great Britain18403620546

March 1992

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh20601220328
Newcastle49801790677
Leeds28203340616
Manchester23901460385
Bootle12901410270
Birmingham194010195
Bristol17101570328
Cardiff19401280322
Wembley26313740638
Sutton40613680775
Glasgow
Dlau Warbreck House3017020
Other MUs
Great Britain2,58521,96704,554

Annex A: Refusals on new claims for DLA by DBC April 1992

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh4120870499
Newcastle1,263113401,398
Leeds45902070666
Manchester71501380853
Bootle28001200400
Birmingham2250580283
Bristol33001410471
Cardiff2540860340
Wembley695330501,003
Sutton62802370865
Glasgow
Dlau Warbreck House805013
Other MUs
Great Britain5,26941,51806,791

May 1992

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh55211070660
Newcastle1,08706401,151
Leeds63101560787
Manchester81001260936

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Bootle5281732604
Birmingham35601610517
Bristol34001432485
Cardiff64101102753
Wembley70411631869
Sutton40421490555
Glasgow
Dlau Warbreack House309113
Other MUs
Great Britain6,05651,26187,330

Annex A: Refusals on new claims for DLA by DBC June 1992

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh928029831,229
Newcastle1,00207701,079
Leeds1,661215921,824
Manchester1,114110431,222
Bootle65701300787
Birmingham978120101,180
Bristol55901350694
Cardiff80101700971
Wembley895318001,078
Sutton843416841,019
Glasgow
Dlau Warbreck House310750106
Other MUs
Great Britain9,469111,6971211,189

July 1992

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh1,979225352,239
Newcastle1,45016711,519
Leeds1,579315121,735
Manchester1,86429331,962
Bootle1,071014131,215
Birmingham1,296133801,635
Bristol8720811954
Cardiff1,345012911,475
Wembley1,431522911,666
Sutton2,33311192142,550
Glasgow
Dlau Warbreck House1050911197
Other MUs
Great Britain15,235251,7653217,147

Annex A: Refusals on new claims for DLA by DBC August 1992

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh1,086219521,285
Newcastle1,25325101,306
Leeds1,864611711,988
Manchester2,838511722,962
Bootle1,567011111,679
Birmingham1,423330521,733
Bristol8954682969
Cardiff1,39616811,466
Wembley1,449519441,652

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Sutton1,7171714141,879
Glasgow
DLAU Warbreck House1801763260
Other MUs
Great Britain15,668461,4432217,179

September 1992

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh2,020020642,230
Newcastle1,50507301,578
Leeds2,123614652,280
Manchester2,3431011102,464
Bootle1,77439511,873
Birmingham2,918326563,192
Bristol1,11557861,204
Cardiff2,227214702,376
Wembley1,9641124282,225
Sutton1,539417931,725
Glasgow
DLAU Warbreck House1901782271
Other MUs
Great Britain19,718451,6203521,418

Annex A: Refusals on new claims for DLA by DBC October 1992

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh4,316319364,518
Newcastle1,19425811,255
Leeds2,2701011812,399
Manchester2,05159032,149
Bootle2,034210702,143
Birmingham3,4731225553,745
Bristol1,10248351,194
Cardiff1,423411621,545
Wembley1,9602215322,137
Sutton1,578416481,754
Glasgow
Dlau Warbreck House5202974623
Other M Us
Great Britain21,921701,4343723,462

November 1992

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh2,6181115462,789
Newcastle1,23926711,309
Leeds1,781410711,893
Manchester1,780410211,887
Bootle1,287211941,412
Birmingham2,412822442,648
Bristol54941000653
Cardiff96916301,033
Wembley1,3951614031,554
Sutton1,216514551,373
Glasgow
Dlau Warbreck House3941633461
Other MUs

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Great Britain15,642581,2842817,012

Annex A: Refusals on new claims for DLA by DBC December 1992

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh2,853216153,021
Newcastle7860330819
Leeds1,87068821,966
Manchester1,12187021,201
Bootle1,04857901,132
Birmingham2,1491816782,342
Bristol6665430714
Cardiff1,00927001,081
Wembley1,08388731,181
Sutton1,165510521,277
Glasgow
DLAU Warbeck House5353452585
Other MUs
Great Britain14,285629842415,319

January 1993

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh1,932210432,041
Newcastle8622501915
Leeds2,27288702,367
Manchester1,582911501,706
Bootle1,42519801,524
Birmingham1,8831014542,042
Bristol6506560712
Cardiff1,22909601,325
Wembley1,223626101,490
Sutton1,196812751,336
Glasgow
DLAU Warbeck House94349981,054
Other MUs
Great Britain15,197561,2382116,512

Annex A: Refusals on new claims for DLA by DBC February 1993

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh1,01067841,098
Newcastle8510620913
Leeds2,419719522,623
Manchester1,624109601,730
Bootle1,569113921,711
Birmingham1,937731222,258
Bristol84110513905
Cardiff1,10929421,207
Wembley1,564813801,710
Sutton1,410711761,540
Glasgow1,09305611,150
DLAU Warbreck House2,3792346452,871
Other MUs30003
Great Britain17,809811,8022719,719

March 1993

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh1,04258951,141
Newcastle97425111,028
Leeds2,707817252,892
Manchester1,893148911,997
Bootle1,799514811,953
Birmingham2,4671026632,746
Bristol1,03026721,101
Cardiff1,77529031,870
Wembley2,0781620912,304
Sutton1,454718531,649
Glasgow1,82728601,915
DLAU Warbreck House1,0801325781,358
Other MUs1300013
Great Britain20,139861,7093321,967

Annex A: Refusals on new claims for DLA by DBC April 1993

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh1,01526811,086
Newcastle94006401,004
Leeds2,375613112,513
Manchester1,51978521,613
Bootle1,728111511,845
Birmingham2,5461421622,778
Bristol8821631947
Cardiff1,29807621,376
Wembley1,6011717031,791
Sutton1,617714231,769
Glasgow1,62306101,684
Dlau Warbreck House27413924383
Other MUs90009
Great Britain17,427681,2832018,798

May 1993

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh8680521921
Newcastle96015921,022
Leeds2,228311522,348
Manchester1,41446311,482
Bootle1,45327101,526
Birmingham2,003318242,192
Bristol7294671801
Cardiff2,13619812,236
Wembley1,5291514721,693
Sutton1,758512731,893
Glasgow1,99006302,053
Dlau Warbreck House1031420146
Other MUs1100011
Great Britain17,182391,0861718,324

Annex A: Other refusals during 1992

1

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh1,02134621,072
Newcastle7461230770
Leeds9185440967
Manchester97343001,007
Bootle6751301707
Birmingham97155111,028

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Bristol4413281473
Cardiff6681290698
Wembley80611572876
Sutton7918503852
Glasgow
Dlau Warbreck House1124134133
Other MUs
Great Britain8,12246401148,583

1 These cases were decided in 1992 but the exact month is not known.

(Figures are for cases cleared by a scan of the database during December 1992.)

Annex A: Cumulative up to end of May 1993

Lay grounds

Medical grounds

(a)

(b)

(c)

Total

Edinburgh23,863392,2454726,194
Newcastle16,667141,147717,835
Leeds27,458742,3812429,937
Manchester23,890831,6071825,598
Bootle19,027241,7511620,818
Birmingham27,248953,1634130,547
Bristol11,179481,3872412,638
Cardiff18,485161,5831420,098
Wembley20,6731483,1103023,961
Sutton20,078952,6526322,888
Glasgow6,533226616,802
Dlau Warbreck House6,861661,526458,498
Other MUs3600036
Great Britain221,99870422,818330245,850
Reasons for refusal on lay grounds are:
(a)—on grounds of age.
(b)—on grounds of residence and presence.
(c)—other reasons.

Annex B: Refusals on top up claims for DLA for Great Britain

MobA
Beneficiaries

AA
Beneficiaries

Month

Medical Grounds

Lay Grounds

Medical Grounds

Lay Grounds

Month

Age

Other

Total

1992

February11040015
March10606280176
April478010010579
May1,2403211121,457
June2,59719393173,017
July3,88222523444,435
August5,89657361826,657
September5,6907713126,413
October4,441189059105,383
November2,5928578123,181
December2,2697356422,638
Others11,81354818232,384

1993

January1,90764465802,417
February2,073184253512,552
March2,215274801942,745
April1,869255812552,505
May1,05503151411,385
TOTAL40,1341707,3092814547,939

1 These cases were decided in 1992 but the exact month is riot known.

Figures are for cases cleared by a scan of the database during December 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether the Benefits Agency has now completed its report on the differences in adjudication standards between disability benefit centres;

(2) what steps the Benefits Agency has taken to ensure consistency in adjudication decisions on disability living allowance between disability benefits centres.

The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Letter from Michael Bichard to Sir John Hannam, dated 15 June 1993.

As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking (i) whether the Benefits Agency has now completed its report on the differences in adjudication standards between Disability Benefits Centres and (ii) what steps the Benefits Agency has taken to ensure consistency in adjudication decisions on Disability Living Allowance between Disability Benefits Centres.

A study concerning standards of adjudication in Disability Benefits Centres is still in progress and findings are not expected to become available until late August 1993. Thereafter, recommendations will be carefully analysed before any changes are implemented.

The aim of the study is to assess standards of adjudication, including variations, across the Disability Benefits Centres and the main Disability Living Allowance Unit(s) at Blackpool. It includes a physical examination of casework, research among staff and an analysis of data arising from Review and Appeals activities.

I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.