Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employment and support allowance claimants with (a) cystic fibrosis, (b) rheumatoid arthritis, (c) motor neurone disease, (d) multiple sclerosis and (e) Parkinson's disease have been (i) placed in the support group, (ii) placed in the work-related activity group and (iii) found fit for work since 2008; and if he will make a statement.
The information requested is shown in the table below.
Outcomes of initial and repeat Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) functional assessments and Incapacity Benefits Reassessments (IBR) by disease code: October 2008 – September 2013
|
| Cystic Fibrosis | Spinal Muscular Atrophy | Parkinson’s Disease | Multiple Sclerosis | Other Rheumatoid Arthritis |
Initial claim | SG | 600 | 900 | 1,100 | 5,200 | 2,100 |
WRAG | 100 | 100 | 700 | 2,500 | 3,100 | |
FFW | 100 | - | 500 | 1,600 | 3,500 | |
Repeat claim | SG | 400 | 200 | 900 | 5,700 | 3,200 |
WRAG | 100 | - | 500 | 2,100 | 3,600 | |
FFW | - | - | 100 | 300 | 1,000 | |
IBR claim | SG | 500 | 200 | 1,100 | 13,400 | 5,000 |
WRAG | 100 | - | 300 | 2,500 | 4,900 | |
FFW | - | - | - | 300 | 1,100 |
Source: Data in the tables above is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. “-“denotes nil or under 50.
2. SG – Support Group
WRAG – Work Related Activity Group
FWW – Fit For Work
3. The outcome recorded is the final DWP Decision Maker’s decision or the recommendation made by the Atos Healthcare Professional where the Decision Maker’s decision is not yet available.
4. Motor neurone disease is shown in the table as 'Spinal muscular atrophy'.
5. The data presented above comes from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions. In October 2008, ESA replaced IB for new claims. Starting with a trial in October 2010, and reaching a full scale national roll-out in April 2011, existing IB claims began to be phased out, with claimants reassessed to see if they qualify for ESA instead.
6. The reassessment of existing incapacity benefits claimants was rolled out nationally from April 2011.