Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, published by the World Health Organisation. To qualify for incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, claimants have to undertake a medical assessment of incapacity for work which is called the Personal Capability Assessment. Therefore, the medical condition recorded on the incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claim form does not itself confer entitlement to incapacity benefits. For example, the decision for a customer claiming incapacity benefit on the grounds of alcohol and/or drug related conditions would be based on their ability to carry out the range of activities in the Personal Capability Assessment.
The available information is in the following table.
Suffolk East of England As at August each year All Alcoholism Drug abuse All Alcoholism Drug abuse 2004 21,370 180 190 180,870 2,110 2,470 2005 21,380 200 200 180,250 2,170 2,560 2006 21,280 220 200 178,890 2,280 2,590 2007 21,420 240 240 180,620 2,450 2,710 2008 21,440 260 290 181,040 2,610 2,870 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Data for Suffolk refer to the county of Suffolk. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
[holding answer 8 June 2009]: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Mel Groves:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many new claims for Incapacity Benefit have been made in each year since 1997; and what the average time taken between the date of a first claim for Incapacity Benefit and the date of first payment of that benefit has been in each year since 1997. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Please find attached at Annex 1 the number of Incapacity Benefit new claims made in each year since 2003. This is the date from which records are held. We do not hold management information relating to the period between the date of claim and payment. However, Jobcentre Plus's Average Actual Clearance Time (AACT) Target measures the average number of working days taken to process a claim for Incapacity Benefit. Incapacity Benefit AACT is calculated from the date a properly completed claim form is received by Jobcentre Plus to the date a decision is made. This information is also provided at Annex 1.
Number of days Incapacity benefit claims received Incapacity benefit AACT Target 2003-04 777,455 16.0 22 2004-05 730,590 17.0 22 2005-06 671,385 16.3 19 2006-07 692,802 15.9 18 2007-08 676,715 13.1 18 2008-09 481,076 13.3 15