§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants have established a back-to-work bonus and how many have qualified for a cash payment under the scheme in each quarter since 1996; and what is the average level of existing bonuses and cash payments awarded. [7732]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyWe will be evaluating the effectiveness of the back-to-work bonus scheme in the context of our welfare-to-work objectives, which are to provide work incentives, and to reduce poverty, and to tackle welfare dependency.
Back-to-work Bonus statistics1 Number of claimants qualifying for and receiving a bonus payment in each quarter2 7 October 1996–November 1996 1,000 December 1996–February 1997 4,000 March 1997–May 1997 10,000 These figures are subject to revision.
Notes:
1 Provisional data based on claims held on the Income Support Computer System (ISCS) and the Jobseeker's Allowance Payment Scheme (JSAPS). No clerically processed claims included. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.
2 Claims authorized for payment recorded on JSAPS and ISCS.
Source:
Back-to-Work Bonus management information statistics.
590W
All claimants Number of claimants who had accrued a bonus at the end of May 19971 152,000 Estimated average level of existing bonuses accrued1 £164.52
§ Mr. Keith BradleyUnemployed people who were not able to demonstrate that they were available for and actively seeking work were not entitled to income support, but could apply for hardship payments if they would have otherwise suffered hardship. The number of hardship applications and awards for the period in question is in the table.
All claimants Estimated average bonus payment made from October 1996 to May 19972 £172.11 These figures are subject to revision.
Notes:
1 Live claims on ISCS and JSAPS with a bonus accrual plus claims which have ended with a bonus accrual but no bonus payment has been made (claimants who return to benefit within 12 weeks and have not claimed a bonus retain the amount accrued during the previous claim).
2 Based on total amount authorised for payment recorded on ISCS and JSAPS.
Source:
Back-to-Work Bonus management information statistics.