House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 25 Oct 2004 (pt 27)

Disability Living Allowance

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children have received disability living allowance in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority; and if he will make a statement. [193282]

Maria Eagle: The information has been placed in the Library.

Disabled Access Rights

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what European Union legislation applies to access rights for the disabled. [193702]

Maria Eagle: The Council Directive 2000/78/EC established a general framework for equal treatment in relation to access to employment and occupation. The Directive covers discrimination on the basis of disability, age, sexual orientation or religion and belief.

Gypsies and Travellers

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made with his Department's project to review housing benefit rules for gypsy and traveller sites; and when it will report. [191142]

Mr. Pond: The Department has commissioned Spark Research Ltd. to undertake research to inform our review of housing benefit rules for gypsy and traveller sites. The project is due to report to officials in summer 2005.

Incapacity/Severe Disablement Benefit

Mr. Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average frequency is with which recipients of incapacity benefit, excluding those who are exempt from the personal capability assessment, are subject to medical re-testing, broken down by diagnosis group. [190900]

25 Oct 2004 : Column 1034W

Maria Eagle: Information about the frequency of referrals in individual cases is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Initial referrals for personal capability assessments are made from between three and 10 weeks from the date of claim, according to the recorded diagnosis. Follow-up referrals are at intervals that are generally between three months and three years, based on the advice from the Medical Services' doctor.

Just over 2.7 million people were claiming incapacity benefits in May 2004. Approximately 1 million personal capability assessment referrals were made in 2003–04.

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful appeals were made against the rejection of applications for incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance, broken down by (i) age and (ii) region. [191677]

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Norman Egan to Mr. Goodman, dated 25 October 2004:

The Secretary of State has asked Christina Townsend, Chief Executive, to respond to your question regarding how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful appeals were made against the rejection of applications for Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance broken down by (i) age and (ii) region. Christina is away from the office at the moment and I have been asked to reply.

The information in table 1 gives details of claims to Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement allowance. Table 2 shows the number of successful and unsuccessful appeals made against the rejection of Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance by age whilst table 3 shows the numbers broken down by region.

Table 1 Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance Claims at May 2003

Benefit Claimants Beneficiaries

Incapacity benefit 2,394,200 1,514,400

Severe disablement allowance 333,400 332,800

IB/SDA Data Notes:
1. Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide
2. Government Office Region figures have been derived using the claimant's postcode. Earlier Government Office Region figures were derived using the local office serial number. Comparisons with figures produced in publications
prior to February 2000 may not be appropriate.
3. Includes a small number of Credits only cases over pension age—incorrectly held on the INCAP computer system.
4. Claimants—Customers who Claim IB
5. Beneficiaries—Successful Claims and are in Payment of Benefit

25 Oct 2004 : Column 1035W

Table 2Receipts and outcome of appeals by age groups for the financial year April 2003 to March 2004

Benefit Age group Receipts at appeals service Cleared at hearing Cleared in favour Decision
upheld Cleared
others

Incapacity benefit (not PCA) All 7,395 4,575 1,675- 2,850 50

Under 25 — 525 210- 305 5

25–49 — 2,380 875- 1,475 30

50–59 — 1,010 370- 630 5

60–64 — 335 100- 230 5

65+ — 325 110- 210 ⁽²³⁾—

Incapacity benefit (PCA) All 55,460 41,855 19,880- 21,745 225

Under 25 — 4,845 2,215- 2,605 25

25–49 — 21,385 9,800- 11,475 110

50–59 — 10,355 5,235- 5,055 65

60–64 — 2,535 1,275- 1,245 20

65+ — 2,735 1,360- 1,370 10

Severe disablement allowance All 415 370 180- 185 5

Under 25 — 30 15- 15 ⁽²³⁾—

25–49 — 195 90- 100 ⁽²³⁾—

50–59 — 90 55- 35 ⁽²³⁾—

60–64 — 30 15- 15 ⁽²³⁾—

65+ — 25 10- 15 ⁽²³⁾—

Table 3Receipts and outcome of appeals by region groups for the financial year April 2003 to March 2004

Benefit Region Receipts at appeals service Cleared at hearing Cleared in favour Decision
upheld Cleared
others

Incapacity benefit (not PCA) Birmingham 770 490 115- 370 5

Cardiff 880 470 145- 320 5

Glasgow 1,075 660 290- 360 10

Leeds 1,370 970 360- 605 5

Liverpool 475 320 105- 210 5

Newcastle 465 250 60- 185 ⁽²³⁾—

Nottingham 1,410 865 365- 485 20

Salford 320 190 50- 135 5

Sutton 635 365 185- 180 ⁽²³⁾—

Incapacity benefit (PCA) Birmingham 5,895 4,550 1,815- 2,730 10

Cardiff 8,180 5,175 2,400- 2,755 15

Glasgow 10,850 8,490 4,465- 3,975 45

Leeds 5,045 3,400 1,500- 1,880 20

Liverpool 6,120 5,555 2,735- 2,805 15

Newcastle 4,970 3,450 1,615- 1,825 10

Nottingham 8,760 6,595 2,910- 3,595 90

Salford 2,670 2,610 1,140- 1,450 20

Sutton 2,970 2,030 1,295- 730 ⁽²³⁾—

Severe disablement allowance Birmingham 55 50 40- 10 ⁽²³⁾—

Cardiff 55 45 30- 20 ⁽²³⁾—

Glasgow 40 30 15- 15 ⁽²³⁾—

Leeds 45 45 15- 30 ⁽²³⁾—

Liverpool 25 25 10- 15 ⁽²³⁾—

Newcastle 15 15 5- 10 ⁽²³⁾—

Nottingham 135 120 50- 65 5

Salford 15 10 ⁽²³⁾— 10 ⁽²³⁾—

Sutton 30 25 15- 15 ⁽²³⁾—

⁽²³⁾ Data equal to nil or negligible.
Appeals Data Notes:
1. All figures are subject to change as more up to date data become available.
2. Figures for the latest months may rise significantly as information feeds through to the Appeals Service.
3. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
4. Figures may not sum due to founding.
Source:
100 per cent. download of the Generic Appeals Processing System.

Benefit	Claimants	Beneficiaries
Incapacity benefit	2,394,200	1,514,400
Severe disablement allowance	333,400	332,800

Benefit	Age group	Receipts at appeals service	Cleared at hearing	Cleared in favour	Decision upheld	Cleared others
Incapacity benefit (not PCA)	All	7,395	4,575	1,675-	2,850	50
	Under 25	—	525	210-	305	5
	25–49	—	2,380	875-	1,475	30
	50–59	—	1,010	370-	630	5
	60–64	—	335	100-	230	5
	65+	—	325	110-	210	⁽²³⁾—
Incapacity benefit (PCA)	All	55,460	41,855	19,880-	21,745	225
	Under 25	—	4,845	2,215-	2,605	25
	25–49	—	21,385	9,800-	11,475	110
	50–59	—	10,355	5,235-	5,055	65
	60–64	—	2,535	1,275-	1,245	20
	65+	—	2,735	1,360-	1,370	10
Severe disablement allowance	All	415	370	180-	185	5
	Under 25	—	30	15-	15	⁽²³⁾—
	25–49	—	195	90-	100	⁽²³⁾—
	50–59	—	90	55-	35	⁽²³⁾—
	60–64	—	30	15-	15	⁽²³⁾—
	65+	—	25	10-	15	⁽²³⁾—

Benefit	Region	Receipts at appeals service	Cleared at hearing	Cleared in favour	Decision upheld	Cleared others
Incapacity benefit (not PCA)	Birmingham	770	490	115-	370	5
	Cardiff	880	470	145-	320	5
	Glasgow	1,075	660	290-	360	10
	Leeds	1,370	970	360-	605	5
	Liverpool	475	320	105-	210	5
	Newcastle	465	250	60-	185	⁽²³⁾—
	Nottingham	1,410	865	365-	485	20
	Salford	320	190	50-	135	5
	Sutton	635	365	185-	180	⁽²³⁾—

Incapacity benefit (PCA)	Birmingham	5,895	4,550	1,815-	2,730	10
	Cardiff	8,180	5,175	2,400-	2,755	15
	Glasgow	10,850	8,490	4,465-	3,975	45
	Leeds	5,045	3,400	1,500-	1,880	20
	Liverpool	6,120	5,555	2,735-	2,805	15
	Newcastle	4,970	3,450	1,615-	1,825	10
	Nottingham	8,760	6,595	2,910-	3,595	90
	Salford	2,670	2,610	1,140-	1,450	20
	Sutton	2,970	2,030	1,295-	730	⁽²³⁾—

Severe disablement allowance	Birmingham	55	50	40-	10	⁽²³⁾—
	Cardiff	55	45	30-	20	⁽²³⁾—
	Glasgow	40	30	15-	15	⁽²³⁾—
	Leeds	45	45	15-	30	⁽²³⁾—
	Liverpool	25	25	10-	15	⁽²³⁾—
	Newcastle	15	15	5-	10	⁽²³⁾—
	Nottingham	135	120	50-	65	5
	Salford	15	10	⁽²³⁾—	10	⁽²³⁾—
	Sutton	30	25	15-	15	⁽²³⁾—

I hope this reply is helpful.

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are employed by the appeals system in relation to incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance. [191689]

25 Oct 2004 : Column 1036W

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will write to the hon. Member.

25 Oct 2004 : Column 1037W

Letter from Norman Egan to Mr. Goodman, dated 25 October 2004:

The Secretary of State has asked Christina Townsend, Chief Executive, to respond to your question regarding how many people are employed by the appeals system in relation to incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance. Christina is away from the office at the moment and I have been asked to reply.

The information you have requested is not available, as members of staff are not assigned to individual benefits but instead by venue. I can let you know, however, that the Appeals Service currently has 864 staff in post.

I hope this reply is helpful.

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimed other benefits simultaneously in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) the benefit claimed, (b) age and (c) region. [191691]

Maria Eagle: The information has been placed in the Library.

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