§ Sir John HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants for(a) sickness benefit and (b) invalidity benefit were refused in each of the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92, by reason of insufficient national insurance contributions; and how many of these refusals related to a period of study which was not credited with national insurance contributions under regulations 7 and 8 of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations.
§ Mr. ScottInformation is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is as follows:
Invalidity benefit cannot be paid unless the contribution conditions for sickness benefit have been satisfied or deemed to have been satisfied, and there has been 28 weeks of incapacity for work.
In 1989–90, the latest year for which information is available, 253,4001 claims2 to sickness benefit were unsuccessful because the national insurance contribution conditions were not satisfied. It is not known how many of these refusals might have involved claimants who had not received credits for a period of study.
Notes.
- 1. Information from a 1 per cent. sample of claimants.
- 2. A 'claim' means a claim submitted at the beginning of a spell of incapacity for work. If a person has several separate spells of incapacity for work during the year, each spell is counted as a claim.