asked Her Majesty's Government:
What number and percentage of those in receipt of incapacity benefit, but not middle or higher rate disability living allowance, are estimated to receive care for 20 hours or more a week; and what is the estimated net annual cost of awarding a credit to the carers of such people in (a) 2020, and (b) 2030; and [HL604]
What number and percentage of those on lower rate disability living allowance are estimated to receive care for more than 20 hours a week; and what is the estimated net annual cost of awarding a credit to the carers of such people in (a) 2020, and (b) 2030; and [HL605]
What number and percentage of those in receipt of incapacity benefit and lower rate disability living allowance, but not middle or higher rate disability living allowance, and who receive care for 20 hours or more a week receive those benefits because they suffer from mental ill health. [HL606]
The information is not available in the format requested. The information available is set out below.
Estimates from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) 2004-05 indicate that approximately 100,000 people are in receipt of incapacity benefit, but not the middle or higher rate care component of disability living allowance, and are receiving care for 20 hours or more a week.
These data also suggest that approximately 300,000 people are receiving the lower rate of disability living allowance and are receiving care for 20 hours or more a week.
The FRS does not allow all these people to be matched to the people providing care, some of whom will qualify for the basic state pension and state second pension.
Further, the FRS does not allow us to identify reasons for the receipt of benefits.
Information from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) shows the number and proportion of people who are receiving incapacity benefit and the lower rate of disability living allowance because they suffer from mental ill health. There are around 366,000 people in receipt of incapacity benefits with the lower rate of disability living allowance. Of these, around 108,000 are receiving incapacity benefits due to mental and behavioural disorders (at May 2006). The WPLS does not hold information about people receiving care for 20 hours or more a week.
(The Pensions Bill, introduced on 28 November 2006, will help more people build up better state pensions. Around three-quarters of women reaching state pension age in 2010 will get full basic state pension under the Bill, rising to over 90 per cent by 2025. The Bill will also allow around 1 million extra people (over 90 per cent of whom are women) to accrue entitlement to the state second pension.)
Notes for information from the Family Resources Survey
1. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 100,000, and are based on self-reported information.
2. Information from the Family Resources Survey relates to a point in time, so may not be representative of activity during the year.
3. People who are receiving incapacity benefit and lower rate disability allowance and receive care for 20 or more hours a week may appear in both estimates from the FRS.
4. The Family Resources Survey does not record information on individuals in retirement homes or nursing homes.
Notes for information from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
2. DLA cases are defined as cases in payment.
3. Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, published by the World Health Organisation.