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Written question asked by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Wednesday, 10 September 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 September 2008. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 November 2008 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Benefits: Applications

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of main phase employment and support allowance claims which last for (a) less than 13 weeks, (b) between 13 and 28 weeks, (c) between 28 weeks and one year, (d) between one and two years, (e) between two and three years and (f) more than three years.
Answer

[holding answer 17 September 2008]: Employment and support allowance was introduced on 27 October 2008. Therefore there has been no outturn data yet. However, estimates have been made, which show expected claim durations. These figures are not an assessment of the aims or effect of the introduction of the new benefit.Details of the proportions of claimants remaining on benefit after particular periods provided in the following table are in line with the cautious and prudent approach to making fiscal projections, where the impact of existing and proposed policies is taken into account once there is robust evidence of their effect, but the impact of new or planned policies is not considered where the evidence is more limited.

Estimated proportions of employment and support allowance claimants remaining on benefit after a particular period of time
Claimants remaining on benefit (percentage)
Up to 13 weeks 61.3
Up to 6 months 49.4
Up to 12 months 33.3
Up to 24 months 28.0
Up to 30 months 26.0
30 months + 25.2
Notes:
1. Employment and support allowance was introduced on 27 October 2008 and replaced incapacity benefit and income support on the grounds of sickness or disability for new claimants.
2. Estimates do not take into account new or planned policies where evidence is more limited.
3. Estimates are based on the latest available data and are subject to revision as new data become available.
4. Estimates relate to all employment and support allowance awards for adults of working-age.
5. Estimates are extrapolated from the historic incapacity benefits data from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study with adjustments made to allow for the impact of Pathways to Work and employment and support allowance.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
224027; 482 c1253-4W
Session
2007-08
Subjects
Employment and support allowance
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk