HC Deb 08 November 1999 vol 337 cc382-5W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide, for (i) invalidity benefit and (ii) incapacity benefit for each of the last 15 financial years,(a) the average number of recipients, (b) the average number of successful new claims, (c) the average total expenditure in current prices and (d) the average weekly amount received in current prices; and if he will provide separate estimates for those under state pension age. [96300]

Mr. Bayley

[holding answer 29 October 1999]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.

Table 1 gives figures for recipients and average payments for Invalidity Benefit and for short-term (higher) and long-term Incapacity Benefit (IB) which like Invalidity Benefit (IVB) apply from the twenty ninth week of incapacity. The table excludes short-term (lower) IB which is the equivalent of the old Sickness Benefit for the first twenty eight weeks.

Table 1: Numbers of IVB/1B short-term higher, and long-term rate recipients and average weekly amounts in payment at April 1998 prices
Recipients all ages Average weekly amount (£) Recipients under pension age Average weekly amount (£)
30 March 1991 1,306,000 92.15 1,068,100 84.35
4 April 1992 1,438,900 89.30 1,174,800 90.90
3 April 1993 1,580,000 90.70 1,298,500 92.45
2 April 1994 1,681,200 92.75 1,383,900 94.75
12 April 1995 1,766,900 93.20 1,467,600 95.10
29 February 1996 1,692,400 91.85 1,447,320 92.85
28 February 1997 1,632,060 88.45 1,444,860 88.80
28 February 1998 1,561,740 85.95 1,440,120 86.80

However, it should be noted that the great majority of IB recipients are on the long term rate of benefit. Table 2 shows the average amount payable to these recipients as

Table 2: Numbers of IB long term recipients, and average weekly amounts in payment at April 1998 prices
Recipients all ages Average weekly amount (£) Recipients under pension age Average weekly amount (£)
29 February 1996 1,593,300 93.80 1,348,260 95.20
28 February 1997 1,526,780 90.40 1,339,620 91.00
28 February 1998 1,458,740 87.75 1,337,120 87.95

Notes:

  1. 1. From 1984 to 1995, figures are taken from a 1 per cent. sample of claimants. From 1996, figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.
  2. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 pence.
  3. 3. Since April 1995 IB has not been paid to people who are over State Pension age. However, people who transferred to IB from IVB were permitted to continue to receive it beyond State Pension age.

Table 3 gives the required information for new claims. People do not make a fresh claim when moving from short-term (lower) to short-term (higher) IB.

Table 3: Commencements of IVB/IB short-term higher rate and long-term rate including progression from sickness benefit or IB short-term lower rate
All ages Under pension age
4 April 1998 to 31 March 1984 277,700 272,900
2 April 1994 to 30 March 1985 272,000 264,101
1 April 1985 to 5 April 1986 284,500 276,300
7 April 1986 to 4 April 1987 284,400 277,700
6 April 1987 to 2 April 1988 281,800 275,500
4 April 1998 to 1 April 1989 280,000 273,100
3 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 283,700 275,800
2 April 1990 to 30 March 1991 287,700 278,000
1 April 1991 to 4 April 1992 323,300 313,400
6 April 1992 to 3 April 1993 337,100 329,700

Table 4: Estimated expenditure on invalidity benefit/sickness benefit, and on incapacity benefit (all rates)
£ billion 1998–99 prices
Over pension age Under pension age Total
1983–84 0.3 3.8 4.1
1984–85 0.3 4.0 4.4
1985–86 0.4 4.1 4.5
1986–87 0.5 4.2 4.7
1987–88 0.6 4.4 5.0
1988–89 0.7 4.6 5.2
1989–90 0.8 4.8 5.6
1990–91 0.9 5.0 5.9
1991–92 1.1 5.8 6.9
1992–93 1.2 6.4 7.7
1993–94 1.3 7.1 8.4
1994–95 1.4 7.6 9.0

this is the most accurate reflection of benefit levels for long term sick and disabled people on IB, and the most appropriate comparison with Invalidity Benefit rates.

Table 3: Commencements of IVB/IB short-term higher rate and long-term rate including progression from sickness benefit or IB short-term lower rate
All ages Under pension age
5 April 1993 to 2 April 1994 348,500 340,300
4 April 1994 to 12 April 1995 340,800 333,900
13 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 271,200 266,900
1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 283,500 280,100
1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 285,600 281,800

Note:

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

Table 4 gives estimate expenditure figures. It is not possible to provide figures for short-term (higher) and long-term rates of IB only. The figures are therefore for the whole of IB including short-term (lower) rate. For consistency, expenditure on Sickness Benefit (the equivalent of short-term (lower) rate IB) has been included for the years up to 1994–95.

Table 4: Estimated expenditure on invalidity benefit/sickness benefit, and on incapacity benefit (all rates)
£ billion 1998–99 prices
Over pension age Under pension age Total
1995–96 1.2 7.4 8.6
1996–97 0.9 7.2 8.1
1997–98 0.7 6.9 7.6

Note:

Figures may not sum due to rounding.

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