Incapacity Benefit (Hansard, 26 October 2001)

§ Mr. Webb
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if Jobcentre Plus offices will be set targets for reducing the number of people dependent on Incapacity Benefit. [10478]

§ Malcolm Wicks
No.

§ Mr. Webb
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many(a) men and (b) women claiming Incapacity Benefit and its predecessors received credits only in each year from 1984 [8963]

§ Malcolm Wicks
The information is in the table. 441W

Thousand

Year ending Men Women

31 March 1984 30 27

30 March 1985 23 22

5 April 1986 30 28

4 April 1987 40 38

2 April 1988 51 59

1 April 1989¹ 70 87

31 March 1990 95 110

30 March 1991 126 137

4 April 1992 160 160

3 April 1993 201 185

2 April 1994 233 207

12 April 1995 277 235

29 February 1996² 320 260

28 February 1997 341 273

28 February 1998 372 293

28 February 1999 395 315

29 February 2000 419 331

28 February 2001 447 358

¹ From 2 October 1988 the national insurance contribution test for Sickness Benefit had to be satisfied in the last two relevant tax years before the claim instead of the last one. ² Incapacity Benefit replaced Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit on 13 April 1995.

Note:
All figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
Source:
Figures are taken from a 1 per cent. sample of claims to Sickness Benefit up to and including 1995. After this date figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases.

§ Mr. Webb
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if an Incapacity Benefit claimant taking part in the New Deal for Disabled People in a pilot area for the Social Security (Jobcentre Plus Interviews) Regulation 2001 will(a) see the same personal adviser and (b) attend the same venue, for a work focused interview. [10477]

§ Malcolm Wicks
People already claiming Incapacity Benefit in a Jobcentre Plus or work focused interview area are unaffected by the regulations. The only people to be affected are those making new or repeat claims. In these cases, people eligible for the New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) will normally be given information about NDDP and details of local Job Brokers at their work focused interview. If they wish to take part in NDDP further support will be provided by their chosen Job Broker.

§ Mr. Webb
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which categories of Incapacity Benefit recipients will be automatically exempt from work focused interviews. [10409]

§ Malcolm Wicks
From Monday 22 October Jobcentre Plus interviews are a condition of benefit entitlement for all people making new or repeat claims to Incapacity Benefit in Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices. The Jobcentre Plus interview regulations provide for the waiver or deferment of the interviews in certain circumstances. Information on the circumstances in which a waiver or deferral may be appropriate is set out clearly in the Jobcentre Plus guidance, a copy of which is in the Library.

Thousand
Year ending	Men	Women
31 March 1984	30	27
30 March 1985	23	22
5 April 1986	30	28
4 April 1987	40	38
2 April 1988	51	59
1 April 1989¹	70	87
31 March 1990	95	110
30 March 1991	126	137
4 April 1992	160	160
3 April 1993	201	185
2 April 1994	233	207
12 April 1995	277	235
29 February 1996²	320	260
28 February 1997	341	273
28 February 1998	372	293
28 February 1999	395	315
29 February 2000	419	331
28 February 2001	447	358
¹ From 2 October 1988 the national insurance contribution test for Sickness Benefit had to be satisfied in the last two relevant tax years before the claim instead of the last one.	² Incapacity Benefit replaced Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit on 13 April 1995.