Figures derived from new DWP national statistics published on 27 April indicate that in Wales at 30 November 2005, there were some 940 carers aged 60 and over receiving carer's allowance at a non-standard rate. A breakdown of this figure by gender and Welsh parliamentary constituency is in the table. This information was not available for the reply I gave to my hon. friend on 27 March 2006, Official Report, columns 721-22 because the data then available for the numbers of recipients of carer's allowance at 31 August 2005 were rounded to the nearest 100, and this did not permit figures for the recipients of a non-standard rate of the allowance in each constituency to be provided where they numbered fewer than 50. The new statistical data are rounded to the nearest 10 and, as shown in the table, this does permit figures for the recipients in each constituency to be provided where they number five or more. The estimated additional annual cost to public funds of paying the standard weekly rate of carer's allowance to the carers listed in the table, rather than the non-standard rate they are receiving, would be around £1.25 million at current benefit rates.
Parliamentary Constituency Number of recipients1 Total Women Men Aberavon 10 10 2— Alyn and Deeside 30 30 2— Blaenau Gwent 30 30 2— Brecon and Radnorshire 20 10 2— Bridgend 30 30 2— Caernarfon 20 20 2— Caerphilly 30 30 2— Cardiff Central 20 20 2— Cardiff North 10 10 2— Cardiff South and Penarth 30 30 2— Cardiff West 20 20 2— Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 20 20 2— Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire 20 20 2— Ceredigion 30 20 2— Clwyd South 20 20 2— Clwyd West 20 20 2— Conwy 20 20 2— Cynon Valley 30 30 2— Delyn 20 20 2— Gower 20 20 2— Islwyn 20 20 2— Llanelli 40 30 2— Meirionnydd Nant Conwy 10 10 2— Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney 20 20 2— Monmouth 20 20 2— Montgomeryshire 20 10 2— Neath 40 30 2— Newport East 20 20 2— Newport West 20 20 2— Ogmore 30 30 2— Pontypridd 30 30 2— Preseli Pembrokeshire 30 30 2— Rhondda 20 20 2— Swansea East 20 20 2— Swansea West 20 20 2— Torfaen 40 40 2— Vale of Clwyd 30 30 2— Vale of Glamorgan 20 20 2— Wrexham 20 20 2— Ynys Mon 20 10 2— Total3 910 860 40 1 Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and show the number of people receiving an allowance at a non-standard rate and exclude those with entitlement where payment has been suspended. 2 Nil or fewer than five 3 Totals may not sum due to rounding. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
We have no current plans to change the policy on overlapping benefits in respect of carer’s allowance and retirement pension.
It is a basic principle of the social security system that only one benefit at a time can be paid for the same purpose. Even though the circumstances which give rise to entitlement to carer’s allowance and state pension are different, they are both designed to provide a degree of replacement for lost or forgone income. Carer’s allowance was designed to provide a measure of replacement income where the duties of caring for a severely disabled person prevent the prospect of full-time work and the earnings it would yield. State pension was designed to provide a replacement income in retirement.
Although an entitlement to both benefits will mean that carer’s allowance is not payable, or not payable in full, an underlying entitlement to carer’s allowance gives access to additional financial support through the carer premium in housing benefit and council tax benefit and since 2003 the additional amount for carers in state pension credit.