Incapacity Benefit (Hansard, 5 March 1997)

§ Mr. Pike
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people are currently receiving invalidity benefit in England; [17810]
(2) how many people received sickness benefit in England in the latest week for which figures are available. [17811]

§ Mr. Burt
The information is in the table:

Number of incapacity benefit recipients in England at 31 August 1996

Incapacity benefit short term lower rate 94,000

Incapacity benefit short term higher rate 84,000

Incapacity benefit long term rate 1,190,000

Total 1,368,000

1. Figures are taken from a 5 per cent, sample of the incapacity benefit computer system and rounded to the nearest thousand. Does not include a small number of cases not on the system.

2. From April 1995 sickness benefit was replaced by incapacity benefit—short-term lower rate—and invalidity benefit was replaced by incapacity benefit—short-term higher and long term rate.

§ Mr. Alan Howarth
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of(a) incapacity benefit, (b) severe disablement allowance and (c) income 640W support where a disability premium is in payment have (i) been disallowed benefits and (ii) subsequently signed on as unemployed since April 1995; what was the average duration of unemployment benefit or jobseeker's allowance; and how many of those signing on have subsequently found work. [17096]

§ Mr. Burt
[holding answer 25 February 1997]: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:
From April 1995 to the end of December 1996, 173,000 incapacity benefit recipients were disallowed benefit. In the same period 75,000¹ people in receipt of national insurance credits because of incapacity, most of whom received income support, were disallowed benefit. From April 1995 to the end of December 1996, 92,400 people previously in receipt of incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance and income support on the basis of incapacity for work claimed unemployment benefits.
Note: ¹ Some cases in receipt of national insurance credits only will not be included in this figure.

	Number of incapacity benefit recipients in England at 31 August 1996
Incapacity benefit short term lower rate	94,000
Incapacity benefit short term higher rate	84,000
Incapacity benefit long term rate	1,190,000
Total	1,368,000
1. Figures are taken from a 5 per cent, sample of the incapacity benefit computer system and rounded to the nearest thousand. Does not include a small number of cases not on the system.
2. From April 1995 sickness benefit was replaced by incapacity benefit—short-term lower rate—and invalidity benefit was replaced by incapacity benefit—short-term higher and long term rate.