Incapacity benefits - reassessed claims: impact on DWP benefits

[this consultation is now closed]

Between October 2010 and Spring 2014 customers who receive Incapacity Benefit (IB), Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) and Income Support paid on the grounds of illness or disability will be assessed for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Reassessment of everyone on incapacity benefits to see if they are ready and fit for work began on the 11 October 2010 with two trials in Aberdeen and Burnley. At the end of February, Jobcentre Plus began a limited introductory phase before moving to full national reassessment from April 2011.

Benefits National Statistics are typically published five and a half months in arrears. Thus, statistics published as part of November 2011 Statistical Summary and relating to flows and caseloads to end May 2011 will be the first set of figures impacted.

DWP are planning a number of explicit developments to provide additional statistics on the impact of IB Reasssment itself and to ensure consistent reporting of Client Group statistics on 'incapacity benefits' claimants (those on IB/SDA or ESA).

Details of the proposals are provided in the DWP consultation document (link to pdf document on DWP website).

Responses are requested to: stats-consultation@dwp.gsi.gov.uk by Friday 24th June.