§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of invalidity benefit were(a) medically examined and found (i) capable of work, (ii) capable of alternative work and (iii) capable of undertaking their usual occupation in each of the quarters ending December 1994 and March 1995 and (b) without examination were found (i) capable of work, (ii) capable of alternative work and (iii) capable of undertaking their usual occupation in each of the quarters ending December 1994 and March 1995. [1748]
§ Mr. Burt[holding answer Friday 24 November]:The administration of incapacity benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 29 November 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many claimants of invalidity benefit were (a) medically examined and found (i) capable of work, (ii) capable of alternative work and (iii) capable of undertaking their usual occupation in each of the quarters ending December 1994 and March 1995 and (b) without examination were found (i) capable of work, (ii) capable of alternative work and (iii) capable of undertaking their usual occupation in each of the quarters ending December 1994 and March 1995.Information is not available in the format requested. The figures below are for the number of medical opinions given, following examination, that a customer is capable of work. Such opinions are not given without a medical examination. Decisions as to whether or not a person is found capable of work for benefit purposes is made by independent adjudication officers.
Number of opinions given following examination Number of opinions given following examination December 1994 March 1995 Capable of work Alternative work 26,534 26,150 Usual occupation 4,269 4,096 Total 30,803 30,246 Incapacity Benefit replaced Invalidity Benefit from April 1995. For Incapacity Benefit purposes, the examining doctor does not give any opinion on a person's capacity to work, rather an assessment is carried out of the individual's functional limitations and restrictions which is then scored by the adjudication officer, along with the customer's own assessment, in order to reach a decision on capacity for work.
I hope you find this reply helpful.