§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what percentage of cases reviewed under the Benefit Integrity Project have resulted in claimants(a) losing their entitlement, (b) having the level of their entitlement reduced and (c) having the level of their entitlement increased; [63507]
(2) how many complaints have been lodged by disability living allowance claimants as a result of decisions reached as a result of the Benefit Integrity Project, in each month since its introduction; [63508]
(3) how many people in receipt of disability living allowance have been reviewed under the Benefit Integrity Project since its introduction. [63506]
§ Mr. TimmsThe administration of the Benefit Integrity Project is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Peter Mathison. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 14 December 1998:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) have been reviewed under the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP), what percentage of cases reviewed under the BIP have resulted in claimants (a) losing their entitlement, (b) having the level of their entitlement reduced and (c) having the level of their entitlement increased, and how many complaints have been lodged by DLA claimants as a result of decisions reached following a BIP review for each month since its introduction.
Since its introduction 149,054 customers in receipt DLA have had their claims examined by the BIP. Benefit was removed in 8.13% (12,118) cases, reduced in 13.03% (19,424), and increased in 2.26% (3,373). In 76.58% (114,139) of cases entitlement was unchanged.
Statistical information about the BIP is published on a monthly basis and is placed in the House of Commons Library.
Where a customer is dissatisfied with the outcome of a BIP review, or simply dissatisfied with a decision, their normal course of action would be to request a review or appeal. There have been 22,689 reviews and 5,925 appeals received. Complaints are recorded 499W only where a customer is dissatisfied with the standard of service they have received. Records of customer complaints about the BIP are available from June 1998 only and are as follows:
- June: 121
- July: 127
- August:179
- September: 159
- October: 111
I hope you find this reply useful.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of the Benefit Integrity Project in generating cost savings and reducing the level of benefit fraud. [63509]
§ Mr. TimmsThe administration of the Benefit Integrity Project is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Peter Mathison. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 14 December 1998:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what assessment he has made to the impact of the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) in generating cost savings and reducing the level of benefit fraud.The current estimate of benefit expenditure savings from the Benefit Integrity Project are: £8m in 1997–98, £30m in 1998–99 and £35m in 1999–2000.The purpose of the BIP is to identify and put right incorrectness in the payment of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). The Benefits Agency carries out investigations into cases of suspected fraud in DLA. 1,929 cases, including 75 cases generated by BIP, were referred up to 31 March 1998. None of the cases generated by BIP have been referred for prosecution.I hope you find this reply useful.