To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that people with sensory impairments are not disproportionately affected by the proposed changes to the backdating of benefits. [16124]

The proposed rules will provide for up to one month's automatic backdating for non-income-related benefits and up to one month's backdating of claims for income-related benefits in specified situations. This will include circumstances where the person is deaf and/or blind and has no relative, friend or adviser to assist them in making a claim.