§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of(a) severe disability allowance, (b) income support and (c) incapacity benefit who will be assessed as capable of work he estimates will appeal against this decision in each of the years (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98. [16125]
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§ Mr. HagueThe information is not available in the form requested, as estimates are not made for the individual benefits listed. Current planning assumptions are that the number of appeals which will be lodged on the question of incapacity for work will be in the region of 140,000 in 1995–96, 190,000 in 1996–97 and 90,000 in 1997–98.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what date he will be sending guidance about the assessment of the all-work test for incapacity benefits to(a) adjudication officers and (b) the Benefits Agency medical service. [16124]
§ Mr. HagueThe independent central adjudication service, which has responsibility for adjudication matters, has produced guidance on the application of the all-work test for incapacity benefits. The guidance was delivered to adjudication officers in the week commencing 20 March.
A programme of detailed and comprehensive training on the all-work test for Benefits Agency medical service doctors has been under way since January. Procedural guidance to supplement this training will be received by all those involved in the application of the test before it comes into force on 13 April.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people he estimates will move from(a) severe disability allowance, (b) income support and (c) incapacity benefit in each of the years (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98 to sign on as available for work.[16122]
§ Mr. HagueNo estimates have been made of the number of people leaving severe disablement allowance. The estimated number of people who will move from incapacity benefit and income support with the disability premium to sign on as unemployed earlier than would otherwise have been the case, as a result of the new medical test, is in the table.
1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 From incapacity benefit to unemployment 160,000 120,000 60,000 From income support with disability premium to unemployment 50,000 30,000 10,000 Note:
Estimates rounded to the nearest 10,000.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people he estimates will fail to qualify for(a) severe disablement allowance, (b) income support and (c) incapacity benefit in each of the years (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98 as a result of being assessed as capable of all work. [16118]
§ Mr. HagueNo estimates have been made of the number of severe disablement allowance claimants being found capable of all work. The estimated numbers of new and existing claimants of income support and incapacity benefit who will be found capable of work are in the tables.
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New claimants found capable of work under the new medical test (Table shows the estimated number of people leaving benefit
earlier than they would have done under current arrangements)
1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 Total over 3 years Incapcity benefit1 45,000 55,000 55,000 160,000 Income support with disability premium2 10,000 10,000 10,000 35,000 Total—invalidity benefit and income support2 55,000 70,000 70,000 195,000
Existing claimants found capable of work under the new medical test (Table shows the estimated number of people leaving benefit
earlier than they would have done under current arrangements)
1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 Total over 3 years Invalidity benefit 140,000 80,000 20,000 240,000 Income support with disability premium2 50,000 30,000 5,000 85,000 Total—invalidity benefit and income support2 190,000 110,000 25,000 325,000 Notes:
1Figures for incapacity benefit relate to those who would have qualified for invalidity benefit under the current arrangements.
2Figures for income support do not include those also receiving invalidity benefit/incapacity benefit.
1. All estimates rounded to the nearest 5,000; totals may not sum due to rounding.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of(a) severe disability allowance, (b) income support and (c) incapacity benefit he estimates will be examined by the Benefits Agency Medical Service in each of the years (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98. [16126]
§ Mr. HagueThe information is not available in the form requested, as estimates are not made for the individual benefits listed. Current planning assumptions are that the number of medical examinations relating to incapacity for work will be in the region of 625,000 in 1995–96, 660,000 in 1996–97 and 375,000 in 1997–98.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who will move off incapacity benefits during 1996–97 he estimates will fail to qualify for contributory jobseeker's allowance. [16120]
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people he estimates will qualify for(a) severe disability allowance, (b) income support and (c) incapacity benefit in each of the years (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98 because they fall within one of the groups exempt from the all-work test. [16123]
§ Mr. HagueThe information is not available in the form requested. Estimates have not been made of the number of severe disablement allowance and income support claimants who will be exempt from the all-work test. It is estimated that around 50,000 new incapacity benefit claimants per year will be exempt from the test and that around 900,000 existing invalidity benefit claimants will be exempt.
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§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people will qualify for unemployment benefit or jobseeker's allowance he expects will need to claim an incapacity benefit on the basis that they are unable to work, in each of the years(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [16119]
§ Mr. HagueIt is not possible to make the estimate specified in the question, as data are not held on benefits received by claimants at the point of a claim for an incapacity benefit.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who will move off incapacity benefits during 1995–96 he estimates will qualify for unemployment benefit. [16121]
§ Dr. BrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out full details of the procedures to be used under the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994 by the Benefits Agency medical service agency in the assessment of severe mental health problems, and the criteria by which the Benefits Agency medical service doctors will assess each individual to decide who is, and who is not, to be exempt by reason of mental illness from the all-work test. [17011]
§ Mr. HagueBefore the all-work test is applied to any claimant with a diagnosis of mental health problems, a Benefits Agency medical services doctor will consider whether the claimant's mental health problem is a severe one. This consideration will be based on medical evidence already held and on further information from the Claimant's GP or other medical practitioner, which may be sought specifically to inform the decision. Where a claimant is certified by the Benefits Agency medical service doctor as suffering from severe mental illness, he will be found incapable for work automatically, without having to undergo the test.
The guidance for Benefits Agency medical service doctors in assessing severe mental health problems is as follows:
Severe mental health problems are characterised by the presence of mental illness so adversely affecting a person's mood, behaviour or social or environmental awareness, including interpersonal relationships, that continued psychiatric care is essential. This care could include:sheltered residential facilities where the person receives regular medical or nursing supervision; orday care at least one day a week in a centre where qualified nursing care is available; and/orlong-term medication with anti-psychotic preparations including depot neuroleptics or mood-modifying drugs.