§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people(a) failed the All Work Test, (b) appealed against the decision and (c) had their appeal successfully upheld broken down by each benefit applied for, in each of the last 10 years. [132931]
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§ Angela EagleThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows. The All-work Test (AWT) was introduced in 1995.
Information on disallowances following the AWT (which was replaced by the Personal Capability Assessment from April this year) is in table 1. Disallowances include claimants who have failed to return the All-work Test (AWT) questionnaire or to attend for medical examination.
Data on appeals are in table 2. The time lags between disallowance, lodging an appeal and hearing an appeal means there is no direct relationship between data on decisions to disallow benefit and appeals made and heard in each calendar year.
Table 1: Total AWT disallowances Incapacity Benefit1 Severe Disablement Allowance 19952 54,080 1,619 1996 189,571 6,294 1997 208,545 5,415 1998 219,007 4,380 1999 196,928 3,140 1 Includes credits only claims and claims for Income Support on the grounds of incapacity 2 From the introduction of IB on 13 April 1995 Source:
Information taken from a 100 per cent. count of adjudication decisions from the benefit computer system
Table 2: Number of appeals and outcomes against All-work Test decisions Incapacity benefits1 Number of appeals lodged Number of appeals cleared at hearing Number of appeals found in favour of the Appellant 19951 18,966 3,616 1,690 1996 70,578 48,047 21,533 1997 81,394 64,646 26,898 1998 60,844 62,607 25,175 1999 54,889 57,586 23,789 1 Incapacity Benefits are Incapacity Benefit, credits only cases (where there is no entitlement to Incapacity Benefit but National Insurance contribution credits are awarded on the grounds of incapacity),Severe Disablement Allowance, Income Support claimed on the grounds of incapacity. Notes:
1. Figures for year ending December 1999 are provisional and may be subject to revision.
2. Figures from the GAPS system are subject to updating on a quarterly basis and may differ from previously published figures.
Sources:
1. April 1995 to December 1997, 100 per cent. extract from Independent Tribunals Service computerised records.
2. September 1997 to December 1999, 100 per cent. download from the Appeals Service Generic Appeals Processing System (GAPS).
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what documentation is needed to proceed with an appeal against an All-work Test decision; and if he will make a statement. [132933]
§ Mr. BayleyThe only documentation required from a person who wants to appeal against a decision on an All-work Test (replaced by the Personal Capability Assessment from April this year) is a written statement 839W setting out the reasons for the appeal. Appellants may provide additional evidence to support their case if they wish, but there is no requirement for them to do so.
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidelines he issues on GP charging for the documentation needed to proceed with an appeal against an All-work Test decision; and if he will make a statement. [132932]
§ Mr. BayleyNone. The only documentation required for an appeal against a decision on an All-work Test (replaced by the Personal Capability Assessment from April this year) is a written statement setting out the reasons for appeal. If appellants wish to provide additional medical evidence in support of their appeal, it is open to them to do so and the provision of such evidence is a private matter between the appellant and their doctor. The British Medical Association issues a list of suggested fees which GPs may charge patients for providing medical reports in general.