Incapacity Benefit

HC Deb 01 November 1999 vol 337 c42W

Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals are claiming Incapacity Benefit who have(a) an individual income and (b) a household income which is in excess of £400 a week before taking into account any benefits due to their disability. [95530]

Mr. Bayley

Data for 1997–98 suggest that there are 140,000 individuals in receipt of Incapacity Benefit with a household income over £400 a week, not including Incapacity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance or any other benefit awarded for incapacity or disability. The number with an individual income over £400 a week cannot be estimated reliably from the available data. Data also suggest that there are around 300,000 Incapacity Benefit households with a total income of more than £400 a week.

Notes:

1. 1. Weekly household income in the unequivalised income, net of tax and other deductions of the household that the benefit recipient lives in less any benefits awarded on the grounds of incapacity or disability.
2. 2. Weekly individual income is the income of the individual in receipt of Incapacity Benefit, less benefits awarded on the grounds of incapacity or disability.
3. 3. All amounts are in April 1999 prices.
4. 4. Figures are estimates taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data set that is based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The FRS does not include Northern Ireland. 1997–98 is the latest year for which information is available.