[holding answer 14 October 2009]: The exercise to require existing customers on incapacity benefits under the age of 25 in Jobcentre Plus Pathways to Work areas to attend mandatory work-focused interviews begins this month. We plan to complete the exercise by March 2011. Current estimates indicate that around 28,300 customers will be affected, this represents around 25 per cent. of the 18 to 25-year-olds currently on incapacity benefits nationally. Customers who are currently exempt from attending personal capability assessments will not be called in for interview.
[holding answer on 26 October 2009]: The information is in the table:
Duration Number of claimants of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance and disability living allowance 6 months and up to 12 months 46,390 12 months and up to 18 months 42,410 18 months and up to 2 years 41,540 2 years and up to 5 years 219,620 5 years and over 945,600 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Durations refer to incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance awards. 3. Data are for Great Britain and abroad. 4. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. These data do not include employment and support allowance. Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study