INCAPACITY BENEFIT AND SEVERE DISABLEMENT ALLOWANCE QUARTERLY SUMMARY OF STATISTICS - MAY 2001

20 Sep 2001 12:00 AM

The May 2001 Incapacity Benefit / Severe Disablement Allowance (IB/SDA) tables are published today. They show figures for the quarter ending 31 May 2001, and time series figures since May 1995.

The IB/SDA quarterly enquiry provides analyses of the characteristics of the IB and SDA caseloads at a point in time plus summary information on the respective caseloads since IB replaced Sickness and Invalidity Benefits in April 1995. The types of analyses include numbers and ages of claimants and recipients, rates of benefit and average amounts in payment, reason for exemption from the Personal Capability Assessment, flows onto the benefit and analysis of the caseload by Government Office Region.

The main findings are:

- At the end of 31 May 2001, the number of IB claimants stood at 2.33 million, almost unchanged from the previous quarter. This is 2.8% higher than the same point a year earlier and 3.8% lower than when IB was introduced in 1995.

- 1.5 million claimants were men - of which 45% were under 50. For women the figures were 0.9 million and 57% respectively.

- The average amount of IB in payment at 31 May 2001 was #83.40 per week, compared to #82.59 per week a year earlier. The average for the individual rates was #53.16 IB Short Term Lower, #64.12 IB Short Term Higher, #86.95 IB Long Term.

- At 31 May 2001, 6.5% of the working age population of Great Britain was claiming Incapacity Benefit. This varied between the regions from around 11% in Wales, to around 4% in the South East.

- The number claiming Severe Disablement Allowance has remained steady in the year up to 31 May 2001, to stand at around 368 thousand. The average amount currently received is #53.95.

Notes to Editors:

This publication contains information produced by DWP (formerly Department of Social Security) Information Centre (ASD) based on the 5% quarterly extract of the Pension Strategy Computer System (PSCS-INCAP system).

Section A shows time series data on numbers of claimants and beneficiaries as well as dependency and termination reason details. Also shown is the number of cases who still receive IB at the transitionally protected Invalidity Benefit rate, and the average weekly rates of benefit paid.

Section B shows IB figures for the May quarter with a more detailed breakdown including age and sex analyses, as well as claimants and Beneficiaries by Government Office Region and medical diagnosis group.

Section C shows SDA figures with similar breakdowns as in Section B.

Information from a 1% annual sample is also available on request, giving more details of durations on benefit.

For further copies contact:

For electronic copies, Anne Trainer: 0191-225-3633

For paper copies, ASD Secretariat: 0207-962-8192

Issued by: Information Centre Analytical Services Division Department for Work and Pensions

Telephone :

Public Enquiries : 020 7712 2171

DWP website : www.dss.gov.uk

Statistician: Ann Simpson-Hawkins Information Centre Analytical Services Division Department for Work and Pensions Room BP5201 Benton Park View Benton Park Road Longbenton NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE98 1YX

Telephone : 0191 225 7801 Facsimile : 0191 225 3193 email : Ann.Simpson- Hawkins@MS03.dwp.gsi.gov.uk

Next Publication: 13 December 2001