The rate of benefit payable to a disability benefit claimant depends on the circumstances of the particular family. In addition to a personal rate of payment – the current maximum is £77.50 a week – additional increases are available for qualified adults at a current maximum of £47 a week and for each qualified child at £13.20. A qualified child for disability benefit purposes is a child under age 18.
While disability benefit is not regarded as a long-term payment for social welfare purposes, a person who has been on disability benefit for at least a year and who expects to remain incapable of work for at least a further year can opt to apply for invalidity pension. Invalidity pension is paid at higher rates than disability benefit. In addition, increases for qualified children are payable up to the age of 22 years or to the end of the academic year after the 22nd birthday where the child continues in full-time education. Where the child of a disability benefit claimant continues in secondary school beyond 18 years, supplementary welfare allowance may be claimed in respect of that child.
The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness contains a commitment to extend child dependant allowances to all social welfare recipients where the child is under 22 and in full-time education. This commitment will be fulfilled during the lifetime of the programme. Under social welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
