House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 27 May 2004 (pt 18)

27 May 2004 : Column 1790W—continued

Benefits

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 1 April, Official Report, column 1633W, on pension payment, what the arrangements will be for cashing the cheques. [175950]

Mr. Pond: Direct Payment is an essential part of our drive against financial and social exclusion, giving our customers access to a wide range of financial services, which some cannot access at present.

The cheque method of payment is only intended for those customers who genuinely cannot use Direct Payment. Customers who will require a cheque payment are likely to have had experience of, and be familiar with, cashing order books and giros at the post office. The cheque solution replicates this process. Cheques can be cashed at post office branches or paid into an account, and they will provide the facility for a third party to cash the cheque on a customer's behalf.

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate how many and what percentage of those (a) of working age and (b) not of working age who receive (i) attendance allowance, (ii) each (A) level and (B) component of disability living allowance and (iii) incapacity benefit, broken down by region. [176227]

Maria Eagle: Information on the numbers of benefit recipients as requested has been placed the Library.

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate how many people in Newcastle upon Tyne, Central constituency receive (a) attendance allowance, (b) each (i) level and (ii) component of disability living allowance and (c) incapacity benefit. [176228]

Maria Eagle: The information required is set out in the tables.
AA by rate in Newcastle upon Tyne, Central parliamentary constituency as at 30 November 2003

Thousand

All 1.8

Higher rate 1.2

Lower rate 0.6

DLA by rate in the Newcastle upon Tyne, Central parliamentary constituency Thousand

All Children Working age Pensioners

All 4.1 ⁽²³⁾0.4 2.1 1.1

Higher Rate Care and Higher Mobility 0.6 — ⁽²³⁾0.4 ⁽²³⁾0.2

Higher Rate Care Lower Rate Mobility ⁽²³⁾0.3 ⁽²³⁾0.1 ⁽²³⁾0.2 —

Higher Rate Care only ⁽²³⁾0.1 ⁽²³⁾0.1 — —

Middle Rate Care and Higher Rate Mobility 0.6 — ⁽²³⁾0.3 ⁽²³⁾0.2

Middle Rate Care and Lower Rate Mobility ⁽²³⁾0.5 ⁽²³⁾0.1 ⁽²³⁾0.4 —

Middle Rate Care only ⁽²³⁾0.2 ⁽²³⁾0.1 ⁽²³⁾0.1 —

Lower Rate Care and Higher Rate Mobility 0.8 — ⁽²³⁾0.4 ⁽²³⁾0.3

Lower Rate Care and Lower Rate Mobility ⁽²³⁾0.1 — ⁽²³⁾0.1 —

Lower Rate Care only ⁽²³⁾0.4 ⁽²³⁾0.1 ⁽²³⁾0.2 ⁽²³⁾0.1

Higher Rate Mobility ⁽²³⁾0.5 — ⁽²³⁾0.3 ⁽²³⁾0.2

Lower Rate Mobility ⁽²³⁾0.2 — ⁽²³⁾0.2 —

27 May 2004 : Column 1791W

Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) beneficiaries in the Newcastle upon Tyne, Central constituency at 30 November 2003, by rate of IB

Thousand

IB/SDA total 3.2

All IB rates 2.7

IB short term (low rate) ⁽²³⁾0.1

IB short term (high rate) ⁽²³⁾0.2

IB long term rate 2.4

SDA 0.5

⁽²³⁾ Figures 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.
Note:
Figures are shown in thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample.

27 May 2004 : Column 1792W

	Thousand
All	1.8
Higher rate	1.2
Lower rate	0.6

	All	Children	Working age	Pensioners
All	4.1	⁽²³⁾0.4	2.1	1.1

Higher Rate Care and Higher Mobility	0.6	—	⁽²³⁾0.4	⁽²³⁾0.2
Higher Rate Care Lower Rate Mobility	⁽²³⁾0.3	⁽²³⁾0.1	⁽²³⁾0.2	—
Higher Rate Care only	⁽²³⁾0.1	⁽²³⁾0.1	—	—
Middle Rate Care and Higher Rate Mobility	0.6	—	⁽²³⁾0.3	⁽²³⁾0.2
Middle Rate Care and Lower Rate Mobility	⁽²³⁾0.5	⁽²³⁾0.1	⁽²³⁾0.4	—
Middle Rate Care only	⁽²³⁾0.2	⁽²³⁾0.1	⁽²³⁾0.1	—
Lower Rate Care and Higher Rate Mobility	0.8	—	⁽²³⁾0.4	⁽²³⁾0.3
Lower Rate Care and Lower Rate Mobility	⁽²³⁾0.1	—	⁽²³⁾0.1	—
Lower Rate Care only	⁽²³⁾0.4	⁽²³⁾0.1	⁽²³⁾0.2	⁽²³⁾0.1
Higher Rate Mobility	⁽²³⁾0.5	—	⁽²³⁾0.3	⁽²³⁾0.2
Lower Rate Mobility	⁽²³⁾0.2	—	⁽²³⁾0.2	—

	Thousand
IB/SDA total	3.2
All IB rates	2.7
IB short term (low rate)	⁽²³⁾0.1
IB short term (high rate)	⁽²³⁾0.2
IB long term rate	2.4
SDA	0.5

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of those claiming (a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disablement allowance for (i) anxiety, (ii) stress, (iii) depression and (iv) other mental health reasons in each year since 1997. [175700]

Maria Eagle [holding answer 25 May 2004]: The available information is in the table.
£ million

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04

Incapacity benefit—benefit expenditure by year and selected conditions
Phobic Anxiety Disorders or Other Anxiety Disorders 280 278 262 279 281 284 282

Reaction to Severe Stress (e.g. Post traumatic stress disorder) 48 56 66 78 89 97 103

Depressive Episode or Recurrent Depressive Disorder 773 831 827 918 969 1,002 1,036

All other Mental and Behavioural Disorders 583 584 515 567 563 603 613

Severe disablement allowance—benefit expenditure by year and selected conditions

Phobic anxiety disorders or other anxiety disorders 17 17 16 16 16 15 13

Reaction to severe stress (e.g. post traumatic stress disorder) ⁽²⁴⁾— 1 1 1 1 1 1

Depressive episode or recurrent depressive disorder 51 50 50 50 53 48 44

All other mental and behavioural disorders 350 347 356 361 366 326 316

⁽²⁴⁾ Less than £0.5 million.
Notes:
Figures are consistent with the historical outturn expenditure figures published in the DWP's benefit expenditure which can be found on the Department for Work and Pensions website at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure. asp.
Figures are for IB and SDA recipients only and do not include "credits only" cases or income-related benefits.
Figures do not include costs of administration.
From 6 April 2001, there are no new claims for SDA; from that date people disabled early in life can qualify for IB.
Expenditure has been apportioned using data on conditions of IB and SDA recipients from the IB Quarterly Statistical Enquiry which is based on a 5 per cent. sample and therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
Figures are in 2004–05 prices, calculated using the latest GDP deflator.
Figures are rounded to the nearest million pounds.
Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Figures for 2003–04 are estimated outturn.
Source:
DWP—Information and Analysis Directorate, Great Britain estimated expenditure on incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) by year and selected conditions.

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Incapacity benefit—benefit expenditure by year and selected conditions
Phobic Anxiety Disorders or Other Anxiety Disorders	280	278	262	279	281	284	282
Reaction to Severe Stress (e.g. Post traumatic stress disorder)	48	56	66	78	89	97	103
Depressive Episode or Recurrent Depressive Disorder	773	831	827	918	969	1,002	1,036
All other Mental and Behavioural Disorders	583	584	515	567	563	603	613

Severe disablement allowance—benefit expenditure by year and selected conditions
Phobic anxiety disorders or other anxiety disorders	17	17	16	16	16	15	13
Reaction to severe stress (e.g. post traumatic stress disorder)	⁽²⁴⁾—	1	1	1	1	1	1
Depressive episode or recurrent depressive disorder	51	50	50	50	53	48	44
All other mental and behavioural disorders	350	347	356	361	366	326	316

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who are entitled to (a) income support, (b) attendance allowance, (c) disability living allowance, (d) pension credit, (e) council tax benefit and (f) housing benefit are not claiming it in the Vale of Clwyd. [175026]

Mr. Pond: The information is not available.

National figures of the estimated number of people who are entitled to, but not receiving, income support, council tax benefit and housing benefit can be obtained from the DWP report, "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up". The latest statistics relate to financial year 2001–02; a copy of the publication is held in the Library.

Mr. Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged from 16 years to 64 years received (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) severe disablement allowance in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available; what the costs of each was in each year; and if he will make a statement. [174484]

Mr. Pond: The information is in the table.

      1997–98
      2003–04

Expenditure (£ million) Caseload (thousands) Expenditure (£ million) Caseload (thousands)

Jobseekers allowance       (contribution based) 475 201 531 183

Jobseekers allowance       (income based) 3,418 1,190 2,027 658

Incapacity benefit 6,640 1,600 6,637 1,497

Severe disablement       allowance 909 346 810 286

Notes:
1. Expenditure is shown in cash terms.
2. Expenditure for 2003–04 is estimated outturn.
3. Caseload is for August for both the financial years shown in the table. Figures do not include those receiving national insurance credits only. Some jobseeker's allowance recipients can receive both types of benefit, and these are included in caseload figures for both contribution-based and income-based benefit.
4. Expenditure is rounded to the nearest million. Caseload is rounded to the nearest thousand.

27 May 2004 : Column 1793W

	1997–98	2003–04
	Expenditure (£ million)	Caseload (thousands)	Expenditure (£ million)	Caseload (thousands)
Jobseekers allowance (contribution based)	475	201	531	183
Jobseekers allowance (income based)	3,418	1,190	2,027	658
Incapacity benefit	6,640	1,600	6,637	1,497
Severe disablement allowance	909	346	810	286

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what access to benefits British nationals entering this country who are destitute are entitled. [165495]

Mr. Pond: British nationals arriving in the UK from abroad may make an immediate claim for income support, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income-based). In addition to satisfying the normal conditions of entitlement, anyone who claims these benefits within two years of coming to the UK must also demonstrate that they are habitually resident in this country.

Under the National Assistance Act 1948, local authorities may provide accommodation to British passport holders who do not pass the habitual residence test if they are destitute and have a need for care and attention which is not otherwise available. Such accommodation can be provided only as board and lodging and if the local authority considers it appropriate to do so in all the circumstances. Authorities are not obliged under the Act to provide other services or cash payments.

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