Written question asked by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Friday, 3 October 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 October 2008. It was answered by James Purnell (Labour) on Monday, 13 October 2008 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Income Support: Disabled

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of awards of income support on grounds of incapacity for work had a duration of (a) less than 13 weeks, (b) between 13 weeks 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 in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Answer

The available information is in the table:

Proportion of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claims where recipient is also receiving income support by duration of income support award
Percentage
	Less than 13 weeks	Between 13 weeks and 28 weeks	Between 28 weeks and one year	Between one and two years	Between two and three years	Three years and over
May 2007	5.7	5.1	6.4	9.7	8	65.1
August 2007	6.1	5.2	6.1	9.7	7.9	64.9
November 2007	6.2	5.4	6.0	9.8	7.9	64.7
February 2008	5.5	5.7	6.3	10.0	7.7	64.8
Notes:
1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
2. Durations refer to the latest income support award. Claimants may not have been getting incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance for the whole duration of their income support award as repeat claims are not linked.
3. Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance is taken fully into account when working out how much of the applicable amount of income support can be paid.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS

Secondary information