Written question asked by David Lidington (Conservative) on Friday, 26 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 March 2010. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 March 2010 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have claimed (a) incapacity benefit and (b) employment and support allowance in each quarter since April 2008.

Answer

The available information is in the tables.

Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants each quarter since May 2008—Great Britain and abroad
Quarter	Claimants (thousand)
2008
May	2,637.56
August	2,632.00
November-	2,593.01

2009
February	2,468.62
May	2,374.21
August	2,299.58
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.
2. From 6 April 2001, no new claims to severe disablement allowance were accepted. In addition from 27 October 2008, no new claims to incapacity benefit were also accepted.
Source:
Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Employment and support allowance caseload quarterly time series—Great Britain and abroad
Quarter	Claimants (thousand)
2008
November	53.77

2009
February	175.81
May	288.27
August	374.44
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten and displayed in thousands.
2. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008
Source:
Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Secondary information