HL Deb 09 June 1999 vol 601 cc169-70WA
Lord Rix

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make available the latest information about the private and occupational pension entitlement of those entitled to state incapacity benefit, distinguishing between those transferred from the former invalidity benefit and those receiving respectively the higher rate and the lower rate of incapacity benefit awarded since 1995. [HL2694]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)

Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

The table shows levels of occupational and personal pensions for all current incapacity benefit recipients. It is not possible to provide separate figures for former invalidity benefit recipients and people on different rates of incapacity benefit. No existing incapacity benefit recipient will be affected at the point of change by the proposal to take some account of occupational and personal pensions over £50 a week.

Distribution of occupational and personal pensions among incapacity benefit caseload
Amount of Pension Income Number of Cases
£0–£10 53,000
£10–£20 52,000
£20–£30 40,000
£30–£40 45,000
£40–£50 55,000
£50–£60 52,000
£60–£70 52,000
£70–£80 40,000
£80–£90 34,000
£90–£100 41,000
£100–£110 17,000
£110–£120 13,000
£120–£130 15,000
£130–£140 17,000
£140–£150 23,000
£150–£160 9,000
£160–£170 11,000
£170–£180 9,000
£180–£190 11,000
£190–£200 7,000
> £200 46,000
Total 642,000

Notes:

  1. 1. These estimates are based on data from the 1996–97 Family Resources Survey and are in 1996–97 prices.
  2. 2. Incapacity benefit replaced sickness benefit and invalidity benefit in April 1995. All existing sickness benefit and invalidity benefit recipients were transferred to incapacity benefit.
  3. 3. Figures include 11,000 severe disablement allowance cases.