Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many appeals against the payment of incapacity benefit on the ground of failing the all work test have been made in each of the last four quarters; and [HL4631]
How many of the appeals lodged in each of the last four quarters against the disallowance of incapacity benefit on the ground of failing the all work test have led to the reinstatment of the benefit before the appeal was heard; and [HL4632]
How many incapacity benefit appeals relating to the all work test were heard in the last four quarters for which figures are available; and what percentage were decided in the appellant's favour where the appellant (a) attended the hearing but was not represented, (b) was represented but did not attend, (c) attended and was represented and (d) did not attend and was not represented; and [HL4633]
How many incapacity benefit paper appeals relating to the all work test were processed in the last four quarters for which figures are available; and what percentage was decided in the claimant's favour. [HL4634]
§ Baroness Hollis of HeighamThe information is in the tables.
238WA
Incapacity Benefit "All Work Test" appeals for the four quarters of 1998 First quarter Second quarter Total In appellant's favour Total In appellant's favour New lodgements 19,868 — 15,177 — Heard and decided 15,857 6,266 (39.5%) 15,568 6,491 (41.7%) Appellant only attended 4,227 2,205 (52.2%) 4,100 2,157 (52.6%) Representative only attended 240 138 (57.5%) 260 132 (50.8%) Both attended 3,723 (68.2%) 2,539 4,281 2,890 (67.5%) Not attended 3,501 885 (25.3%) 3,998 968 (24.2%) Paper appeals 4,025 499 (12.4%) 2,880 342 (11.9%) Lapsed on Review (1) 947 773
Third quarter Fourth quarter Total In appellant's favour Total In appellant's favour New lodgements 13,196 — 13,939 — Heard and decided 16,606 6,604 (39.8%) 14,434 5,901 (40.9%) Appellant only attended 4,985 2,531 (50.8%) 4,333 2,191 (50.6%) Representative only attended 277 136 (49.1%) 237 130 (54.9%) Both attended 4,819 3,177 (65.9%) 4,324 2,949 (68.2%) Not attended 2,875 376 (13.1%) 2,181 249 (11.4%) Paper appeals 3,616 382 (10.6%) 3,286 379 (11.5%) Lapsed on Review (1) 813 848 Source:
100 per cent download from the Independent Tribunals Service computer system.
Note:
1. Cases lapsed on review are cases when the Adjudication Officer has reviewed the case before a tribunal has been arranged. This includes re-instatement of benefit as well as other outcome decisions.
Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance) Amendment Regulations 1999 (S.I. 2226/1999) allow any latitude to Incapacity Benefit claimants whose incapacity is due to mental illness. [HL4521]
§ Baroness Hollis of HeighamWhere a claim for Incapacity Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance has been disallowed under section 19 of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997, which requires claimants to provide confirmation of their National Insurance number, the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit and Jobseekers Allowance) Amendment Regulations ensure that the days of disallowance are not treated as days of incapacity or days in a jobseeking period.
Claimants are asked to provide information to confirm their National Insurance number only in cases of doubt and the information is usually taken at interview in the local benefit office. Regard is always given to the individual circumstances of the case, recognising in particular that some vulnerable people may have difficulty in producing documents to prove their identity.
Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many medical examinations for the all work test for incapacity benefit have taken place in each of the last four quarters; and [HL4629]
What is the sessional fee for doctors who undertake medical examinations for incapacity benefit; and how long it is since that fee was increased. [HL4630]
§ Baroness Hollis of HeighamThis is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the noble Earl.
239WALetter from Mr. Alexis Cleveland, Acting Chief Executive, to Earl Russell, dated 11th November 1999.
The Secretary of State has asked Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions. As Mr Mathison is currently on leave I am replying.
You asked how many medical examinations for the all work test for Incapacity Benefit (IB) have taken place in each of the last four quarters. Also, what is the sessional fee for doctors who undertake medical examinations for IB; and when was the fee increased.
Details of the number of medical examinations for the All Work Test for IB that have taken place in the last twelve months are shown in the attached appendix.
The sessional fee paid to doctors who undertake medical examinations for IB is £30.70 per hour. A standard session is three and a half hours, therefore, the total fee is £107.45 (3.5 x £30.70).
There has been no increase in the fee paid for IB examinations since they were introduced in 1995.
I hope this is helpful.
Appendix Medical Examinations for the all work test (AWT) for incapacity benefit Quarter Number of AWT examinations November 1998 to January 1999 44,217 February 1999 to April 1999 44,976 May 1999 to July 1999 41,288 August 1999 to October 1999 41,241 Total 171,722