Vol. 462 No. 5
211 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost of the carer's allowance for 1996 and each of the last four years; the number of persons in receipt of this allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5003/96]
The number of people in receipt of carer's allowance at the end of each year from 1992 to 1995 and the associated expenditure in each year is set out in the following table along with the projections for 1996.
The carer's allowance is a social assistance scheme which provides an income maintenance payment to people who are providing elderly or incapacitated pensioners with full-time care and attention and whose incomes fall below certain limits. The number of recipients continues to increase, following the improvements in the scheme which I introduced in the 1995 and 1996 budgets. The means testing arrangements were eased considerably with effect from 15 June 1995 and recipients of carer's allowance became entitled to a free travel companion pass. The rate of payment will be increased by 8 per cent to £67.50 per week from 13 June 1996. This increase will bring the rate of payment to within 1 per cent of the personal rate recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare.
|
Year |
Cost |
Number of Recipients |
|
£ |
||
|
1996 |
27,100,000* |
7,800* |
|
1995 |
20,200,000 |
6,917 |
|
1994 |
14,370,000 |
5,056 |
|
1993 |
11,514,000 |
4,328 |
|
1992 |
10,500,000 |
3,938 |
