Incapacity Benefit (Hansard, 16 January 1996)

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a copy of 565W the guidance issued by the Benefits Agency medical services to assist its medical practitioners when considering incapacity benefit applications. [7749]

§ Mr. Burt
A copy of the medical advisers' guide to incapacity benefit is available in the Library.

§ Mr. Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people to date have undergone a medical examination by a medical assistant of the Benefits Agency in relation to claims for the consideration of incapacity benefit; and how many of those applicants have had their benefit stopped as a result. [7750]

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

Number

Total examinations ¹222,003

Total all work test cases disallowed following examination ²239,626

¹ Includes all work test examinations for Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and credits only cases.

² As there is often a delay between the examination and the adjudication officer's decision this figure does not accurately reflect the proportion of examinations which resulted in disallowance. 1. All information is from 13 April 1995 to 30 November 1995 and is subject to change.

§ Mr. Chris Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated number of hours per month that Benefits Agency doctors will spend dealing with incapacity benefit claims in 1996£97. [8016]

§ Mr. Burt
The information is not available.

§ Mr. Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 December,Official Report, column 670, regarding claims for incapacity benefit, if he will express the numbers of incapacity benefit claimants in the various categories as a proportion of the total. [7812]

§ Mr. Burt
The information requested is in the table.

Per cent.

Disallowed for failure to return questionnaire (IB50) without good cause as proportion of total questionnaires issued 0.5

Disallowed for failure to attend medical examination without good cause as a proportion of total examinations performed 0.4

Found capable of work following all work test as a proportion of all work test examinations ¹17

Appeals lodged with ITS as proportion of those failing all work test 31

Successful appeals as proportion of those heard 43

Appeals superseded by adjudication officer as proportion of those lodged 3.8

As there is often a delay between the examination and the adjudication officer's decision this figure does not accurately represent the proportion of examinations which resulted in disallowance.

1. Figures include only incapacity benefit claimants and are subject to change.
2. All figures to end of October 1995.

	Number
Total examinations	¹222,003
Total all work test cases disallowed following examination	²239,626
¹ Includes all work test examinations for Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and credits only cases.
² As there is often a delay between the examination and the adjudication officer's decision this figure does not accurately reflect the proportion of examinations which resulted in disallowance. 1. All information is from 13 April 1995 to 30 November 1995 and is subject to change.

	Per cent.
Disallowed for failure to return questionnaire (IB50) without good cause as proportion of total questionnaires issued	0.5
Disallowed for failure to attend medical examination without good cause as a proportion of total examinations performed	0.4
Found capable of work following all work test as a proportion of all work test examinations	¹17
Appeals lodged with ITS as proportion of those failing all work test	31
Successful appeals as proportion of those heard	43
Appeals superseded by adjudication officer as proportion of those lodged	3.8
As there is often a delay between the examination and the adjudication officer's decision this figure does not accurately represent the proportion of examinations which resulted in disallowance.