Incapacity Benefit (Hansard, 2 May 2002)

§ Mr. Chope
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claims for incapacity benefit were unsuccessful in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [40784]

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
The information is in the table.

Proportion of unsuccessful incapacity benefit (IB) claims

Percentage of unsuccessful IB claims as a proportion of claims received

1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000¹ 51

1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 51

1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 52

¹ The underlying data for the period 1 April 1999 to 31 May 1999 only include claims that were unsuccessful because they failed the contribution test. The underlying data from 1 June 1999 onwards include claims that were unsuccessful because they failed the contribution test or were withdrawn, and claims where no medical evidence was received or where the person claimed while living abroad in a country which does not have a reciprocal social security agreement.

Notes:
1. People whose IB claims are unsuccessful can go on the receive national insurance credits only.
2. The number of unsuccessful IB claims may refer to a slightly different time period to the number of claims received.
Source:
The underlying data are taken from 100 per cent. counts supplied by the Department's Central Data Unit.
984W

§ Miss McIntosh
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed incapacity benefit in the York and North Yorkshire area in(a) 1997, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001. [28197]

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
[pursuant to his reply, 6 March 2002, c. 411W]: The available information is in the table.

Number of people claiming incapacity benefit (IB) in the City of York and North Yorkshire local authority areas

York North Yorkshire¹

31 August 1997 4,700 14,300

31 August 1999 4,500 14,000

31 August 2000 4,800 13,900

31 August 2001 4,900 14,600

¹ North Yorkshire includes Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby.

Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
Source:
Figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the incapacity benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.

Proportion of unsuccessful incapacity benefit (IB) claims
	Percentage of unsuccessful IB claims as a proportion of claims received
1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000¹	51
1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001	51
1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002	52
¹ The underlying data for the period 1 April 1999 to 31 May 1999 only include claims that were unsuccessful because they failed the contribution test. The underlying data from 1 June 1999 onwards include claims that were unsuccessful because they failed the contribution test or were withdrawn, and claims where no medical evidence was received or where the person claimed while living abroad in a country which does not have a reciprocal social security agreement.

Number of people claiming incapacity benefit (IB) in the City of York and North Yorkshire local authority areas
	York	North Yorkshire¹
31 August 1997	4,700	14,300
31 August 1999	4,500	14,000
31 August 2000	4,800	13,900
31 August 2001	4,900	14,600
¹ North Yorkshire includes Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby.