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7 Nov 2002 : Column 656W—continued
Pensions
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what income sources his Department includes when measuring progress towards the Government's target on increasing the balance of spending on pensioners' incomes that comes from the private sector, as outlined on page 103 of the 1998 Green Paper on pensions Command Paper 4179; and what the figures were for each of these income sources in each year since 1998. [78331]
Mr. McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 20 May 2002, Official Report, column 41W, and on 3 July 2002, Official Report, columns 420W–22W.
Harrow Benefits Agency
Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been received about late payment of benefits by the Harrow Benefits Agency in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [77228]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: Over the last 12 months, a total of 1,051 complaints have been received at the Harrow Social Security Office regarding late payment of benefits.
The last 12 months have seen substantial change in what was Harrow Benefits Agency and a period of industrial action which has had some impact on performance. The Harrow Social Security Office now forms part of the Jobcentre Plus District for Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon. The District has already begun an improvement programme including re-training for
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staff in some areas of their work. This is already showing improved results in customer service and performance, with a corresponding reduction in the number of complaints received. There were 153 complaints about late payments of benefit in October 2001. By October 2002 there were only 13 complaints.
Disability Benefits
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disabled benefit recipients have failed his Department's tests in each of the last five years for which records are available; and
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how many have had those benefits restored on appeal for each of the different tests for which disabled people are required to undergo. [76089]
Maria Eagle: Two medical assessments are used to determine incapacity for work for benefit purposes: the Own Occupation Test, which is applied during the first 28 weeks of incapacity, and the Personal Capability Assessment. Attendance Allowance (AA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) are self-assessment benefits and as such there is no requirement for a medical assessment. However, Decision Makers may request further evidence which can include a report from an examining medical practitioner.
The available information is in the tables.
| Year | Incapacity BenefitPersonal Capability Assessment(17)Own Occupation Test | Severe Disablement AllowancePersonal Capability Assessment(17)Own Occupation Test | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 March 1997 to 28 February 1998 | 173,400 | 2,700 | 1,500 | — |
| 1 March 1998 to 28 February 1999 | 116,300(18) | 4,700 | 1,000(18) | — |
| 1 March 1999 to 29 February 2000 | 127,600 | 4,500 | 900 | *100 |
| 1 March 2000 to 28 February 2001 | 96,900 | 5,600 | 700 | — |
| 1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002 | 103,900 | 5,100 | 1,100 | — |
Notes:
(17) The Personal Capability Assessment replaced the All Work Test in April 2000.
(18) Figures are for 3 quarters only. Due to a change in the recording system reliable figures for the personal capability assessment are not available for the quarter ending 30 November 1998.
(19) National Insurance Credits Only cases are included in these figures.
(20) Numbers marked ''*'' are based on a very few sample cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
(21) ''—'' denotes nil or negligible.
Source:
Figures are based on 5 per cent samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
| Period | Found in favour |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2000–31 December 2000 | 6,660 |
| 1 January 2001–31 December 2001 | 12,800 |
| 1 January 2002–30 September 2002 | 11,570 |
| Period | Found in favour |
|---|---|
| 01 July 2000–31 December 2000 | 165 |
| 01 January 2001–31 December 2001 | 315 |
| 01 January 2002–30 September 2002 | 260 |
Notes:
1. Includes cases where people are in receipt of SDA or Income Support with the Disability Premium.
2. Information on appeals following the Own Occupation Test is not collected separately.
3. All figures are subject to change as more up to date data become available.
4. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
5. Figures for 2002 are provisional.
6. Reliable data are not available prior to 1 July 2000.
Source:
100 per cent download of the Generic Appeals Processing System.
Jobcentre PWS Interviews
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many (a) income support, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) invalid care allowance, (d) bereavement benefit and (e) severe disablement allowance claimants have had (i) a new claim refused as a result of work focused interview non-attendance and (ii) benefit reduced as a result of failure to attend a repeat work-focused interview, under The Social Security (Jobcentre Plus Interviews) Regulations 2001; [79371]
- (2) what percentage of (a) income support, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) invalid care allowance, (d) bereavement benefit and (e) severe disablement (i) new claimants in Jobcentre Plus areas have had a claim refused as a result of work focused interview non-attendance and (ii) existing caseload claimants in Jobcentre Plus areas have had their benefit reduced as a result of failure to attend a repeat-work focused interview, under The Social Security (Jobcentre Plus Interviews) Regulations 2001. [79372]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
NIRS2 Recalculation
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the average (a) underpayment and (b) overpayment for (i) retirement pension, (ii) widow's
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benefit, (iii) bereavement benefit, (iv) incapacity benefit and (v) jobseeker's allowance is as a result of incorrect NIRS2 calculations; [79370]
- (2) how many (a) retirement pension, (b) widow's benefit, (c) bereavement benefit, (d) incapacity benefit and (e) jobseeker's allowance cases are waiting for a review triggered by a NIRS2 calculation; [79366]
(3) how much has been paid in arrears of (a) retirement pension, (b) widow's benefit, (c) bereavement benefit, (d) incapacity benefit and (e) jobseeker's allowance; and to how many pensioners, as a result of incorrect NIRS2 calculations; [79367]
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(4) how much has been paid in overpayment of (a) retirement pension, (b) widow's benefit, (c) bereavement benefit, (d) incapacity benefit and (e) jobseeker's allowance and to how many claimants, as a result of incorrect NIRS2 calculations; [79368]
(5) how much has been underpaid in (a) retirement pension, (b) widow's benefit, (c) bereavement benefit, (d) incapacity benefit and (e) jobseeker's allowance and to how many claimants as a result of incorrect NIRS2 calculations; [79369]
(6) how many cases are waiting for a review triggered by a NIRS2 calculation. [79357]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 4 November 2002]: Up to 30 November 2001, the information requested is as follows:
| Benefit or pension | Total amount underpaid | Number underpaid | Average amount underpaid | Total amount overpaid | Number overpaid | Average amount overpaid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retirement pension | #64,171,357 | 190,791 | #336 | #2,895,937 | 11,629 | #249 |
| Widow's benefit/bereavement benefit | #29,420,184 | 17,496 | #1,681 | #316,123 | 722 | #438 |
| Incapacity benefit | #3,339,274 | 9,984 | #334 | #746,525 | 793 | #941 |
| Jobseekers allowance | #906,473 | 2,524 | #359 | #180,251 | 475 | #379 |
Underpayments have been rectified. There should be no cases awaiting a review as a direct result of a NIRS2 recalculation.
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