§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for each of the past five years for which figures are available, how many applications for
Claims, awards and disallowances 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Claims for IB 772,726 1,066,399 1,046,743 929,500 910,829 Disallowed due to failing the contribution conditions 267,910 438,476 446,583 395,665 400,471 IB spells commencing in the period 320,900 508,900 463,940 417,420 386,380 Disallowed following OOT test 880 3,268 4,346 4,948 6,505 Disallowed following AWT 54,080 189,571 208,545 219,007 196,928 Notes:
1. All figures are for calendar years except for the "spells commencing" which are for the period 1 December to 30 November each year. In 1995 all figures are from April 1995 when Incapacity Benefit replaced Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit.
2. The sum of IB spells commencing and disallowances due to failing the contribution conditions does not equal the number of IB claims, as the figure for claims includes some that are subsequently withdrawn and accident declarations (which are made in case a claim to benefit becomes necessary at a later date as a result of an industrial accident).
Sources:
1. Claims received—100 per cent. clerical count.
2. IB spells commencing—5 per cent. sample of claimants.
3. Disallowance figures—100 per cent. of the computer system.
Appeals and decisions Incapacity Benefit Appeals 19951 1996 1997 1998 1999 Number of appeals lodged 22,487 62,303 95,119 92,117 61,221 Number cleared at hearing 8,092 41,593 57,286 90,987 73,154 Found in favour of the appellant 4,285 19,059 23,859 33,468 28,992 Original decision upheld 3— 3— 3— 36,618 32,906 Number of Commissioner's rehearing appeals lodged2 3— 3— 154 456 1,066 Number cleared at hearing 3— 3— 3— 280 973 Found in favour of the appellant 3— 3— 3— 188 643 1Figures for 1995 include Invalidity Benefit. 2Information on Commissioner's appeals is only available from autumn 1997 when the GAPS system was introduced. 3Not available. Note:
The number of appeals in favour of the appellant plus the number of decisions upheld does not equal the total number of appeals cleared at hearing. Appeals cleared at hearing also include cases withdrawn or struck out at hearing.
Sources:
1. Figures prior to autumn 1997, 100 per cent. extract from ITS computerised records.
2. Figures after autumn 1997, 100 per cent. download from the Appeals Service Generic Appeals.
3. Processing System (GAPS) computer system.
484WIncapacity Benefit were refused and what proportion of total applications this represents; what proportion of applicants refused Incapacity Benefit appealed to the Appeals Service and how many were successful; and what proportion of applicants whose appeals were rejected by the Appeals Service appealed to the social security commissioners and how many were successful. [122152]
§ Mr. BayleyInformation on numbers of claims for Incapacity Benefit (IB), awards and disallowances are in table 1. The available information on appeals is in table 2. It should be noted that the time lags between stages of the process (e.g. between claim and disallowance, or between disallowance and the hearing of an appeal) means that there is no direct relationship between the numbers in the various categories in each. This in turn means that the figures cannot be used to derive proportions. However, it is estimated that around 22 per cent. of those referred are disallowed following a medical test, that of those disallowed around 30 per cent. appeal, and that around 3 per cent. of those who are not successful at tribunal appeal to the Social Security Commissioners. Claimants who are disallowed IB because they fail the contribution conditions may be awarded National Insurance credits ("credits only" cases): and disallowances following the All Work Test and appeals include IB recipients and credits only cases: it is not possible to disaggregate the figures.