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Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people were in receipt of incapacity benefit in (a) June 1997, (b) February 1999, (c) June 2001 and (d) May 2002; [64330]
- (2) what the total cost of incapacity benefit payments was, and how many claimants were in receipt of incapacity benefit payments, in each year since 1997, broken down into payments of (a) short-term incapacity benefit at the lower rate, (b) short-term incapacity benefit at the higher rate and (c) long-term incapacity benefit. [64334]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: We are committed to providing disabled people with the same employment opportunities as everyone else of working age. Our New Deal for Disabled People and Jobcentre Plus are helping more disabled people to get and keep jobs.
The available information is in the tables.
| 31 May 1997 | 1,732.7 |
| 28 February 1999 | 1,557.1 |
| 31 May 2001 | 1,516.2 |
| 28 February 2002 | 1,496.9 |
Notes:
Figures are expressed in thousands, and rounded to the nearest hundred.
Source:
Figures are based on 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
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| All IB | IB Short Term (Lower) | IB Short Term (Higher) | IB Long Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 February 1997 | 1,749.2 | 117.1 | 105.3 | 1,526.8 |
| 28 February 1998 | 1,671.2 | 109.4 | 103.0 | 1,458.7 |
| 28 February 1999 | 1,557.1 | 94.7 | 87.6 | 1,374.9 |
| 28 February 2000 | 1,504.3 | 90.9 | 88.5 | 1,324.9 |
| 28 February 2001 | 1,515.2 | 93.6 | 91.8 | 1,329.8 |
| 28 February 2002 | 1,496.9 | 84.1 | 92.6 | 1.320.3 |
Notes:
Figures are expressed in thousands, and rounded to the nearest hundred.
Source:
Figures are based on 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
Incapacity Benefit expenditure in each year since 1997
| Incapacity Benefit Expenditure | |||||
| IB Short Term (Lower) | IB Short Term (Higher) | IB Long Term | Earnings Related(120) | ||
| 1996–97 Outturn | 313 | 296 | 5,792 | 1,260 | |
| 1997–98 Outturn | 318 | 317 | 5,716 | 1,062 | |
| 1998–99 Outturn | 283 | 305 | 5,744 | 920 | |
| 1999–00 Outturn | 272 | 274 | 5,492 | 753 | |
| 2000–01 Outturn | 264 | 311 | 5,331 | 695 | |
| 2001–02 Estimated outturn | 278 | 323 | 5.595 | 573 | |
Sources:
Departmental Reports and Benefit Forecasting Model.
(119)Expenditure for 2001–02 reflects the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of outturn for the year.
(120)The earnings-related additional pension component is paid in transitionally protected cases where a person was receiving Invalidity Benefit immediately before Incapacity Benefit was introduced in April 1995.
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Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of incapacity benefit have been helped into permitted work through the Access to Work Scheme since its introduction. [73046]
Maria Eagle: The information requested is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes have been introduced into the incapacity benefit medical testing regime in the last 12 months; and what future changes are proposed. [70835]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: In May 2001 we strengthened the procedures for repeat Personal Capability Assessments (PCAs) to ensure that people receiving Incapacity Benefit have regular checks on their medical condition. Cases going through the PCA process are now marked for review at least every 3 or 5 years, or an earlier review if appropriate.
From June 2002, a telephone booking system has been operated by Medical Services for PCA examinations wherever possible. This should improve attendance at examinations and reduced customer waiting times at the examination centres.
From October 2002, we are bringing forward the start of the PCA process for new claims by up to 10 weeks in order to ensure decisions on continuing incapacity are made more promptly.
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people leaving incapacity benefit in (a) the last six months, (b) the last year and (c) the last five years represented (i) transfers to other social security benefits, (ii) people moving from benefit into employment and (iii) people moving off benefit to unknown destinations. [64328]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
| Period | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Destination | 1/6/01–30/11/01 | 1/12/00–30/11/01 | 1/12/96–30/11/01 |
| Retirement Pension(121) | 19.3 | 41.2 | 173.8 |
| To another benefit within 3 months(122) | 70.8 | 148.0 | 949.8 |
| To WPTC/DPTC within 3 months(123) | 6.2 | 12.6 | 60.3 |
| Unknown, including employment | 264.8 | 525.2 | 2,957.6 |
| Total | 361.1 | 727.0 | 4,141.5 |
Source:
5 per cent. samples of DWP Information Centre administrative data.
Notes:
(121)Includes leavers within 3 months of state pension age.
(122)Figures are based on cases moving to Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance within 3 months of the termination of the claim to Incapacity Benefit.
(123)Figures are based on cases moving to Family Credit/Working Families Tax Credit or Disability Working Allowance/Disabled Person's Tax Credit within 3 months of the termination of the claim to Incapacity Benefit.
(124)Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 688W, on incapacity benefit, what data his Department collate for each of the new jobcentre plus pathfinder areas on the number of new claims for incapacity benefit that have been made since the introduction of the scheme, and on the number of (a) waivers, (b) deferrals for work-focused interviews and (c) work-focused interviews that have taken place and the number of claimants that have (i) refused to attend an interview and (ii) been subjected to benefit sanctions. [66483]
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Mr. Nicholas Brown: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive, Leigh Lewis. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.
Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Webb dated 23 July 2002.
As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the information which we collate for each of the new Jobcentre Plus Pathfinder areas on the number of new claims for incapacity benefit broken down by the categories you set out. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
Information in this respect is not collated for Incapacity Benefit claimants separately. We do collate information for claimants to both incapacity and disability benefits on numbers of new claims, waivers, deferrals and work focussed meetings.
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of incapacity benefit are also in receipt of child benefit, broken down by local authority in Scotland. [69542]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: Information is not available in the format requested. Information is held on the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients who have child dependants, but this does not necessarily mean that they will also be in receipt of Child Benefit. In order to receive a Child Dependency Increase the person claiming Incapacity Benefit must be either entitled to Child Benefit for the child or treated as entitled to Child Benefit by virtue of their spouse or partner receiving it. We cannot, therefore, give accurate figures for the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients who also receive Child Benefit.
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants there were in (a) St Helens, (b) Merseyside, (c) the North West and (d) England in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000 and (v) 2001. [71285]
Mr. Nicholas Brown [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The information is in the table.
| England | North West | Merseyside (including St Helens) | St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 1997 | 1,853.8 | 423.3 | 114.0 | 14.3 |
| February 1998 | 1,836.2 | 413.0 | 111.2 | 14.1 |
| February 1999 | 1,790.8 | 394.6 | 106.7 | 13.4 |
| February 2000 | 1,779.1 | 384.9 | 102.9 | 12.7 |
| February 2001 | 1,835.0 | 393.4 | 104.3 | 12.9 |
| February 2002 | 1,850.7 | 389.3 | 102.4 | 12.4 |
Source:
Figures are taken from 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.
Note:
Figures are expressed as thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many incapacity benefit recipients have had their benefit reduced since April 2001 because they were in receipt of payments from an occupational or personal pension scheme or permanent health insurance scheme; [70820]
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- (2) what percentage of, and how many, incapacity benefit recipients, who would otherwise have seen a reduction in benefit due to receipt of personal or occupational pension, were exempted because they were in receipt of disability living allowance higher rate care component since April 2001; [70821]
(3) how much total expenditure on incapacity benefit has been reduced as a result of the rules on offsetting of personal or occupational pensions introduced in April 2001. [70822]
Mr. Nick Brown: The available information on numbers of Incapacity Benefit recipients is in the table.
| New awards of IB made from 6 April 2001 to 28 February 2002 | Number of awards (thousands) |
|---|---|
| Number with IB reduced due to receipt of payment from an occupation or personal pension scheme or permanent health insurance scheme. | 9.9 |
| Number exempt from the rules due to receipt of Disability Living Allowance highest rate care component | 4.8 |
Source:
Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
Notes:
1. Figures are expressed in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Only new and repeat claims received from 6 April 2001 were affected by the new rules on offsetting personal and occupational pension schemes and permanent health insurance schemes.
3. We are unable to separately identify those people subject to these rules but who are not affected because their income from a pension or health insurance scheme is below £85/week.
We estimate that the reduction in expenditure on Incapacity Benefit due to the rules on offsetting personal and occupational pensions has been £10 million over the period April 2001 to mid-February 2002.
Source: based on a 5 per cent. sample of the Incapacity Benefit computer system.
Note:
1. The estimate is rounded to the nearest £10m and excludes the impact of offsetting reductions in the income-related benefits.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received a net increase in benefit income as a result of receiving non-contributory incapacity benefit instead of severe disablement allowance. [70826]
Maria Eagle: The information is not available.
After a year on benefit, young people who qualify for Incapacity Benefit under the youth provisions will be up to £28.10 a week better off than they would have been on Severe Disablement Allowance. The Department estimated that around 6,500 young people would gain from the new provisions in the first year.
Up to 28 February 2002 there have been 10,200 1 awards of non-contributory Incapacity Benefit.
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1. Source: figure is taken from 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and excludes a small number of cases held clerically.
Note: figure is rounded to the nearest hundred.
Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that those on incapacity benefit who reach their 65 birthday and move on to retirement pension do not experience a benefit gap between the end of the benefit and the start of the pension. [72204]
Mr. McCartney: The principle of paying Retirement Pensions in whole weeks stems from the fact that the benefit week is traditionally paid in advance. Entitlement to Retirement Pension begins with the pay-day on or following the pensioner's 60 or 65 birthday. Changes in entitlement, for example a decrease because of a prolonged stay in hospital, also takes effect from the pay-day following the change of circumstances. The same rule applies with the termination of the award.
Incapacity Benefit is traditionally paid in arrears so in the transition between these benefits the claimant may experience a perceived gap in benefit. However, the claimant does not lose any payment days because payment of Retirement Pension will continue after the change in circumstances or the end of the claim for Retirement Pension until the next pay-day.
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