HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 c657W
Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disabled benefit recipients have failed his Department's tests in each of the last five years for which records are available; and

Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) claims disallowed following application of the Personal Capability Assessment or the Own Occupation Test
Incapacity Benefit Severe Disablement Allowance
Year Personal Capability Assessment1 Own Occupation Test Personal Capability Assessment1 Own Occupation Test
1 March 1997 to 28 February 1998 173,400 2,700 1,500 —
1 March 1998 to 28 February 1999 116,3002 4,700 1,0002 —
1 March 1999 to 29 February 2000 127,600 4,500 900 *100
1 March 2000 to 28 February 2001 96,900 5,600 700 —
1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002 103,900 5,100 1,100 —
Notes:
1 The Personal Capability Assessment replaced the All Work Test in April 2000.
2 Figures are for 3 quarters only. Due to a change in the recording system reliable figures for the personal capability assessment are not available for the quarter ending 30 November 1998.
3 National Insurance Credits Only cases are included in these figures.
4 Numbers marked "*" are based on a very few sample cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
5 "—" denotes nil or negligible.

Source:

Figures are based on 5 per cent samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of clerically held cases.

Appeals against disallowance of IB following a Personal Capability Assessment found in favour of the appellant
Period Found in favour
1 July 2000–31 December 2000 6,660
1 January 2001–31 December 2001 12,800
1 January 2002–30 September 2002 11,570

Appeals against disallowance of other benefits following a Personal Capability Assessment found in favour of the appellant
Period Found in favour
01 July 2000–31 December 2000 165
01 January 2001–31 December 2001 315
01 January 2002–30 September 2002 260

Notes:

1. Includes cases where people are in receipt of SDA or Income Support with the Disability Premium.

2. Information on appeals following the Own Occupation Test is not collected separately.

3. All figures are subject to change as more up to date data become available.

4. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

5. Figures for 2002 are provisional.

6. Reliable data are not available prior to 1 July 2000.

Source:

100 per cent download of the Generic Appeals Processing System.