Written question asked by Tom Levitt (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 March 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 March 1999. It was answered by Hugh Bayley (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 March 1999 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will estimate the number of myalgic encephalitis sufferers who (a) were in receipt of disability living allowance, (b) were appealing against being turned down for disability living allowance or having it withdrawn and (c) had successfully appealed against a decision to refuse payment of disability living allowance at the latest date for which figures are available. - Including table and ref to fact that figures not available in form requested.

Answer: Mr. Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of myalgic encephalitis sufferers who (a) were in receipt of disability living allowance, (b) were appealing against being turned down for disability living allowance or having it withdrawn and (c) had successfully appealed against a decision to refuse payment of disability living allowance at the latest date for which figures are available. [76222] Mr. Bayley: Figures are not available in the form requested. The available information for a wider group of people, those with Chronic Fatigue Syndromes including myalgic encephalomyelitis and post viral conditions, is in the table. People claiming Disability Living Allowance whose main disabling condition is chronic fatigue syndrome _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number People in receipt of benefit at 31 August 1998 8,900 First awards of benefit between 1 April 1992 and 31 August 1998 All first awards 10,300 awards on initial claim 6,500 awards resulting from review 2,600 awards resulting from appeal 1,300 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. People for whom myalgic encephalitis is not their main disabling condition may also receive Disability Living Allowance 2. Figures do not sum owing to rounding Source: Analytical Services Division: 5 per cent. data

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 76222; 327 c623-4W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Disability living allowance Appeals Applications ME/CFS Social security benefits
Contains statistics: Yes