Written question asked by David Laws (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 12 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 March 2012. It was answered by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 March 2012 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Benefits

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged (a) 18 to 21 and (b) 22 to 24 years claimed (i) employment and support allowance and (ii) incapacity benefit in England in the last year for which figures are available.

Answer

The information is provided for the last four quarters.

Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance (IB/SDA) and employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants in England, split by age: November 2010 to August 2011.
	IB/SDA	ESA
	Aged 18-21	Aged 22-24	Aged 18-21	Aged 22-24
November 2010	18,290	42,420	42,410	26,290
February 2011	15,500	40,330	42,950	27,300
May 2011	12,730	38,640	44,970	28,750
August 2011	10,100	36,230	49,450	31,890
Notes:
1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance for new claims from October 2008.
3. Data include claimants receiving credits only.
Source:
DWP Information, Governance & Security Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Secondary information