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Dept of Social Security

Answer

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what proportion of applications for disability living allowance or for an upgrade to higher rate disability living allowance an adverse decision is given without the adjudication officer seeking information from the claimant's general practitioner or hospital consultant. [4846] Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The information is not available in the format requested; the available information is given below. A claimant is invited to provide supporting statements with his claim, for example from a GP, carer or social worker. Information from such sources may also be requested by an adjudication officer who may further ask for an examining medical practitioner's report. Information is sought from the most suitable source, and this may not be a GP or hospital consultant if, for example, the claimant has not recently attended for treatment. Disability living allowance decisions made April 1992 to October 1996 {1} {2} _________________________________________________________________________________________________. (1) (2) (3) (4) Decisions involving any Adverse decisions (of col 2) Adverse decisions as a additional evidence other than (Thousands) percentage of decisions (col 3 from a GP or hospital as a percentage of col 2) (Thousands) Initial claims 1,568 {3}705 45 Other decisions{4} 1,414 {5}955 68 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: Analytical Services Division: 100 per cent. data. Notes: {1} All figures are rounded and are for decisions based on evidence provided in the claim pack,which may include a GP's statement. {2} Cases where the type of evidence used is unknown have been excluded. {3} An adverse decision is one where benefit is refused. {4} Decisions made for renewal claims, reviews and appeals. {5} An adverse decision is one where either a previous refusal has been upheld, or where the benefit was previously awarded and the decision is not to increase the level of the award.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

4846; 285 c601-2W;285 c603-4W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Disability living allowance Applications Decreases Disqualification Medical examinations Social security benefits

Contains statistics

Yes