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Dept of Social Security;Social Security Benefits Agency

Answer

Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the absolute numbers of people who (a) failed and (b) passed the all work tests at Ayr for each month since April 1995; if he will indicate the number of those who failed who subsequently appealed for each month, the number of those appeals which were successful and the number of successful appellants who were subsequently called for a further all work test. [1357] Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The administration of incapacity benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member. Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. George Foulkes, dated 5 November 1996: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list the absolute numbers of people who (a) failed and (b) passed the All Work test at Ayr for each month since April 1995; if he will indicate the number of those who failed who subsequently appealed for each month, the number of those appeals which were successful and the number of successful appellants who were subsequently called for a further All Work test. The information is not available in the format requested because the number of successful appellants who were subsequently called for a further All Work test is unavailable. The available information is shown in the attached tables. I hope you find this reply helpful. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1995-96 April May June July August September October November December Number failing the AWT 0 0 19 49 68 33 77 94 65 after examination Number allowed under AWT 0 128 236 161 214 170 285 265 172 following reference to BAMS Number of IB AWT appeals 0 0 0 16 20 28 21 51 52 received Number of IB AWT appeals 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 10 13 heard and decided Number of IB AWT appeals 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 7 found in favour of appellant 1996-97 January February March April May June July August September Number failing the 97 80 124 117 106 71 59 82 60 AWT{1} after examination Number allowed under AWT 299 327 363 251 431 269 263 330 288 following reference to BAMS{2} Number of IB{3} AWT 50 61 54 58 48 57 35 20 27 appeals received Number of IB AWT appeals 11 9 7 29 8 46 70 70 43 heard and decided Number of IB AWT appeals 6 4 4 19 6 21 36 41 17 found in favour of appellant _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: 100 per cent. count of cases on the Incapacity Benefit system. Excludes a small number of clerically processed cases. Notes: {1} All Work Test {2} Benefits Agency Medical Services {3} Incapacity Benefit 1. The number who failed the All Work Test (AWT) after examination includes a small number of credits only cases who were disallowed on failure to return the medical questionnaire without good cause and who failed to attend a medical. Some Credits Only cases which existed prior to April 1995 are not included. 2. The number who passed the All Work Test (AWT) includes those cases allowed following scrutiny and/or examination by BA Medical Services. Some Credits Only cases which existed prior to April 1995 are not included. 3. The information provided on appeals excludes all Credits Only Cases. 4. The decision to allow, disallow or review benefit entitlement is made by the Independent Adjudication Officer. 5. Figures are provisional and subject to change.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

1357; 284 c552-4W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Appeals Incapacity benefit Medical examinations Social security Ayr

Contains statistics

Yes