§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants have successfully claimed a benefit by passing an all-work test in each year since that test was introduced; and what estimate she has made of the number of such claimants who have earnings from work. [22094]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.
Cases allowed benefit following referral to the Benefits Agency medical services1 Number 1995–96 561,502 1996–97 840,679 1997–98 (to 31 October 1997) 460,640 Incapacity Benefit is only payable as long as a person remains incapable of work through sickness or disability. Recipients are permitted to undertake up to 16 hours work per week without affecting their benefit entitlement provided this work is of a therapeutic nature. It is estimated that 1 per cent. of Incapacity Benefit recipients undertake paid work on the grounds that it is therapeutic2.
Sources:
1100 per cent. count of the Incapacity Benefit computer. This includes people claiming benefit for the first time and existing recipients re-referred for a further medical examination. Includes referrals under the all-work test and own occupation test, and includes Severe Disablement Allowance cases. Excludes a small number of cases not on the system.
2Londsdale, S., Lessof C. and Ferris, G. (1993) Invalidity Benefit; a survey of recipients, London: HMSO.