The available information is in the following table.
Number of claimants November 1997 2,837,400 November 1998 2,767,400 November 1999 2,738,130 November 2000 2,764,140 November 2001 2,787,710 November 2002 2,818,480 November 2003 2,822,270 November 2004 2,814,410 November 2005 2,752,900 November 2006 2,714,950 Notes: 1. Caseload figures from 1999 onwards are rounded to the nearest 10. Some additional disclosure control has also been applied. 2. Caseload figures for 1997 and 1998 are rounded to the nearest hundred. 3. Caseloads for 1997 and 1998 have been produced using 5 per cent. data and have been rated up in accordance with the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. IB/SDA totals. 4. 1997 and 1998 figures are from a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. 5. From 6 April 2001, no new claims to SDA were accepted. 6. Figures include credits only cases. Source: 1. DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, 1999 onwards. 2. Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample, 1997 and 1998.