Applicants for Long Term Incapacity Allowance (LTIA) in 2nd quarter of 2005

1240/5(2601)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY COMMITTEE BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 19th JULY 2005

Question

1. Will the President inform membersof the numbers of Long Term Incapacity Allowance(LTIA) applicants there were forthe 2nd quarter of 2005 together with the numbersassessed and at whatpercentagesof incapacity?
2. In his response to my question of 19th April 2005, the President stated that information should be available by the end of June 2005 onthenumberofLTIA claimants in the 1st quarter 2005 whowere actually inwork. Will the Presidentprovide these figures for membersalong with the equivalent figures for the last quarter of 2004, and, if unabletodoso, explain the reasons why?
3. Also in his responsetomyquestionof 19th April2005, the President gave comparative 2003/2004 figures for claims for the last quarter ofeach year forDisablement, Invalidity and LTIA benefits. These show new or re-opened claims for Invalidity at134 compared with LTIA at137for the final quarter 2004.Would the President explain tomemberswhythereshouldbeso many such claimsfor Invalidity in this period when this benefit had been replacedbyLTIA and wouldhe confirm whetherallnew claimants for long-term benefits currently beingprocessedarenowonLTIA?

Answer

1. In replying to the Deputy 's questions I must stress that all figures giveninmyanswers represent a snapshot in time.

I n the 2nd quarter of 2005, 109 LTIA applicants have been assessed by a medical board with the following

results –

2. Allowing for lateclaimsandassessmentsthere were 155validclaimsfor LTIA made in the last quarter of 2004. Of this cohortofpeople 35 per cent workedand paid contributions in the last quarter of2004and for this particular cohort the figure increasedto42 per cent inthe first quarter of2005.Underthe old Invalidity Benefit systemclaimants could not work and receive benefit.More detailed analysisof this encouraging trend will take place as further data is collated over a reasonable period oftime.There were a total of136 claims for LTIA inthefirst quarter 2005ofwhich26 per cent of claimants worked and paid contributions.
3. Under thetermsof the transition from the old tonew Incapacity Benefits approved by the States, individuals with  existing  Invalidity  Benefit  claims  on  1st  October 2004,  retained  rights  acquired  under the  old legislation.  This meant that normal medical certification procedures continued to cater for late claims, backdating and medical boarding reports in Jersey and from abroadafter the changein legislation. Invalidity claimants are still subject to review bymedicalboardsandthesereviews were included in the totalgivenin my answer. I can confirm that new claims processed now would receive LTIA but there is still thepossibility of retained rights' cases, albeit very rarely, appearing inthe future.