Adult Dependants Benefits (Hansard, 1 July 1996)

§ Mr. Alan Howarth
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the spending on increases to benefits for adult dependants during 1995–96 in respect of(a) incapacity benefit, (b) severe disablement allowance and (c) unemployment benefit. [34243]

§ Mr. Burt
The information is in the table.

Estimated expenditure on adult dependency increases in 1995–96

£ million

Incapacity benefit 770

Severe disablement allowance 5

Unemployment benefit 85

Estimates rounded to the nearest £5 million.

§ Mr. Howarth
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) male and (b) female claimants of (i) severe disablement allowance, (ii) incapacity benefit and (iii) unemployment benefit also claim an allowance for an adult dependant; and if he will indicate the average amount of benefit payable in each case. [34214]

§ Mr. Burt
The information is in the table.

Benefit (a) Males to whom an adult dependency increase is payable Average amount in payment £ (b) Females to whom an adult dependency-increase is payable Average amount in payment £

Severe disablement allowance 3,000 20.69 1,000 21.15

Incapacity benefit 361,000 31.75 5,000 34.16

Unemployment benefit 53,000 27.78 1,000 27.11

¹ Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

² Severe disablement allowance and incapacity benefit figures are taken from a 5 per cent, sample of cases recorded on the incapacity benefit computer system and exclude a small number of clerically paid cases. The figures are for claimants in receipt of an adult dependency increase at 29 February 1996.

³ Unemployment benefit figures are taken from a 5 per cent, sample of unemployed claimants taken on 8 February 1996.

323W

Estimated expenditure on adult dependency increases in 1995–96
	£ million
Incapacity benefit	770
Severe disablement allowance	5
Unemployment benefit	85

Benefit	(a) Males to whom an adult dependency increase is payable	Average amount in payment £	(b) Females to whom an adult dependency-increase is payable	Average amount in payment £
Severe disablement allowance	3,000	20.69	1,000	21.15
Incapacity benefit	361,000	31.75	5,000	34.16
Unemployment benefit	53,000	27.78	1,000	27.11
¹ Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
² Severe disablement allowance and incapacity benefit figures are taken from a 5 per cent, sample of cases recorded on the incapacity benefit computer system and exclude a small number of clerically paid cases. The figures are for claimants in receipt of an adult dependency increase at 29 February 1996.
³ Unemployment benefit figures are taken from a 5 per cent, sample of unemployed claimants taken on 8 February 1996.