Such information as is available is published in ‘Employment Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment statistical release (October 2009)’, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
The publication is also available online at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca.asp
The published data summarise work capability assessment results for employment support allowance claims in Great Britain up to the end of February 2009.
Information on the results of the personal capability assessment is not available.
The available data, however, are based on recorded advice from Atos, rather than the Decision Maker's final determination. The final outcomes of cases may change. This will be further compounded by reconsiderations following additional medical evidence and the outcomes of appeals.
The available information is in the tables.
2008 2009 October November December January February Total Support Group 600 2,400 2,200 2,600 2,200 10,000 Work related activity group 1,000 4,800 4,500 6,000 5,300 21,600 Fit for work 3,300 16,000 13,800 18,600 17,100 68,800 Claim closed before assessment complete 3,500 17,700 15,900 19,800 17,600 74,500 Assessment still in progress 600 3,000 3,300 5,500 6,500 19,000 Total 9,100 43,900 39,600 52,500 48,700 193,800 1. Figures are round to the nearest 100. 2. Around 3 per cent. of assessments are made clerically. These figures are not included in this table. Source: Department for Work and Pensions benefits data and Atos Healthcare medical assessment data
2008 2009 October November December January February Overall Support group 7 6 6 5 4 5 Work related activity group 11 11 11 11 11 11 Fit for work 37 37 35 36 35 36 Claim closed before assessment complete 39 40 40 38 36 38 Assessment still in progress 6 7 8 11 13 10
The data presented combine three main data sources:
benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions covering new employment and support allowance claims between October 2008 to February 2009;
medical assessment data sourced from Atos Healthcare covering assessments completed between October 2008 and August 2009; and
appeals data sourced from Tribunals Service covering appeals heard up to July 2009.
The tables present assessment results by breaking down cohorts of employment and support allowance benefit claims. This is presented for claim starts to February 2009. Beyond this date the results are not reliable as many claims are still within the process.
National Statistics on employment and support allowance on-flows and caseload are published on the Department for Work and Pensions Tabulation Tool. Latest data available show there were 195,500 new employment and support allowance claims between 27 October 2008 and 28 February 2009.
Note that rounding and exclusion of clerical claims means the figures in the first table won't match the Tabulation Tool figures exactly.
52 per cent. of these employment and support allowance claims were assessed resulting in the following outcomes:
5 per cent. were assessed as suitable for the support group;
11 per cent. were assessed as suitable for the work related activity group; and
36 per cent. were assessed as being fit for work.
The remaining 48 per cent. either left employment and support allowance before completing assessment or assessment is still in progress.