HC Deb 05 July 1993 vol 228 cc42-3W
29. Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of invalidity benefit in January 1990; and what are the latest available figures.

Mr. Scott

On 31 January 1990 there were, 1,196,000 people receiving invalidity benefit'. The estimated average number receiving invalidity benefit at any one time during 1992–93 was 1,490,000.2

Notes:

1Source—1 per cent. sample of claimants, rounded to the nearest thousand.

2Source—Departmental Report.

Mr. Dewar

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of people in receipt of invalidity benefit have additional income from(a) an occupational pension, (b) a spouse earning less than £44.65 and (c) a spouse earning more than £44.65 a week, giving figures separately for men and women.

Mr. Scott

Information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available follows.

Using information from the 1989, 1990 and 1991 family expenditure surveys, we estimate that around 45 per cent. of men and 25 per cent. of women in receipt of invalidity benefit received an occupational pension.

Information is not kept on the number of invalidity benefit recipients whose spouse earns above the earnings limit. However, at 30 March 1991, there were some 4,000 reduced rate adult dependency increases in payment arising from claims made before 16 September 1985. At that time, such increases were reduced because of earnings rather than not paid about a given level as is the present rule.

Information about invalidity benefit recipients at 30 March 1991 who received an adult dependency increase is in the table.

Number of beneficiaries Adult dependency increase in payment
Per cent.
Total 1,306,000 415,000 31.8
Men 976,000 412,000 42.2
Women 330,000 2,000 0.7

Note:

1. 30 March 1991 is the latest date for which information is available, figures based on a 1 per cent. sample of incapacity benefit claimants, and rounded to the nearest thousand.