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Dept of Social Security

Answer

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been assessed as eligible for sickness benefit on grounds of incapacity caused by (a) mental health problems and (b) drug/alcohol dependency in each of the last five years. [137373] Mr. Bayley: Incapacity Benefit replaced sickness benefit and invalidity benefit on 13 April 1995. Where benefit is awarded, the first primary diagnosis from the medical certificate is recorded according to the international classification of diseases. The most recent information available for awards of incapacity benefit made where the main condition is recorded as being a mental or behavioural disorder or alcohol or drug abuse is given in the table. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Annual periods Mental and behavioural disorders Alcohol and drug abuse 1 June 1995 to 31 May 1996 77,900 3,200 1 June 1996 to 31 May 1997 79,100 4,300 1 June 1997 to 31 May 1998 86,100 4,800 1 June 1998 to 31 May 1999 79,600 4,200 1 June 1999 to 31 May 2000 81,000 4,700 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. All causes of incapacity are coded using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition. Primary diagnoses of alcohol or drug abuse are normally shown as part of the group under the heading Mental and Behavioural disorders but are shown separately in the above table. 2. Disorders appearing as secondary conditions are not recorded. 3. Figures relate to spells of incapacity benefit commencing in the stated period. More than one spell may relate to the same claimant. 4. 31 May 2000 is the latest date for which information is available. Source: These figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

356 c617W; 137373

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Eligibility Drugs Incapacity benefit Mental illness Misuse Recipients Alcohols

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk