Work and Pensions written question – answered at on 16 May 2011.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of recipients of employment and support allowance there would be in the (a) work related activity group and (b) assessment phase (i) with and (ii) without time-limiting in place for each financial year from 2011-12 to 2015-16. [This section has been corrected on 21 June 2011, column 1MC — read correction]
The first table shows the estimated future recipients of contributory employment and support allowance (ESA) in the work related activity group (WRAG) with and without time-limiting in force.
Contributory ESA caseload in the WRAG | ||
With time-limiting in force | Without time-limiting in force | |
2011-12 | 200,000 | 200,000 |
2012-13 | 260,000 | 400,000 |
2013-14 | 200,000 | 590,000 |
2014-15 | 160,000 | 730,000 |
2015-16 | 40,000 | 720,000 |
The second table shows the estimated future recipients of contributory ESA in the assessment phase with and without time-limiting in force.
Contributory ESA caseload in the assessment phase | ||
With time-limiting in force | Without time-limiting in force | |
2011-12 | 180,000 | 180,000 |
2012-13 | 110,000 | 190,000 |
2013-14 | 180,000 | 190,000 |
2014-15 | 170,000 | 180,000 |
2015-16 | 160,000 | 170,000 |
Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10,000 claimants and are based on Budget 2011 forecasts for the ESA time-limiting proposal. Caseloads for contributory ESA have been given as people on income-related ESA or credits-only ESA will be unaffected by the time limiting proposal.
For those who leave the contributory ESA as a result of the time limit, it is estimated that around 60%, or approximately 400,000 people by 2015-16, are expected to be fully or partially compensated by income-related ESA, so will retain entitlement to ESA. And those who don't qualify for income-related ESA may remain on ESA on a credits-only basis.
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