Incapacity and Invalidity Benefit

HC Deb 24 June 1999 vol 333 c434W

Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women have claimed (i) invalidity benefit and (ii) incapacity benefit in each year since 1991. [87589]

Mr. Bayley

The information is in the table.

The number of spells of Invalidity Benefit1 (1991–92 to 1994–95) and Incapacity Benefit2 short-term higher rate and long-term rate (the equivalent of Invalidity Benefit) (1995–96 to 1997–98) that commenced during each statistical year
	Men	Women
1991–92	233,000	90,000
1992–93	239,000	98,000
1993–94	242,000	106,000
1994–95	232,000	109,000
1995–96	174,000	97,000
1996–97	179,000	104,800
1997–98	182,000	104,000
1Invalidity Benefit from 1991–92 to 1994–95.
2Incapacity Benefit at the short-term higher and long-term rates (the equivalent of Invalidity Benefit) from 1995–96 to 1997–98.

Notes:

1. It is possible for a person to have more than one spell of benefit during a year.

2. Figures are from a 1 per cent. sample of claimants.