What are the different age groups of those claiming Income Support

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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 19th JANUARY 2010

Question

In order for members to have a better understanding of those claiming Income Support, would the Minister provide the following information –

1. the numberof people under the age of18 claiming support;?
2. the numberof people aged between18andunder25?
3. the numberof people aged between25and60?
4. the numberof people aged over 60 years of age?
5. The numberof people ofworkingagewho are medically unfit to workbrokendown into their genderand the following time periods ofsicknessabsence - less than 6 months; 6 monthstoless than 12 months;12 months to 3 years; 3 yearsto 6 years; more than 6 yearsbutnotclassedas permanently unfitto work; unfit to work?

Answer

(a)– (d)

T h e number of individuals included in Income Support households, analysed by age, is given in the table.

(e)   There are a number of benefits associated with incapacity but not all of them are relevant to the capacity or otherwise of the individual to work. Individuals receiving Short Term Incapacity Allowance (STIA) have been certified by their GP as being incapable of work due to incapacity. STIA is available for a period of up to one year. On 31st December 2009, there were a total of 607 individuals receiving STIA where their claim had lasted up to 6 months. The great majority of these claims are in respect of very short illnesses that only last a few days. There were 197 claims which had lasted between 6 months and one year. These figures are in respect of all claims and will include individuals receiving Income Support as well as those not receiving Income Support.

F o r individuals with long term conditions, Long Term Incapacity Allowance (LTIA) is available. This is

provided on the basis of loss of faculty as a result of a disease or injury. It is not based on the ability of the individual to work and is paid to individuals regardless of their employment status. Associated with LTIA, an Incapacity Pension is available to individuals who are below pensionable age but as a result of a disease or injury are likely to be permanently incapable of work. In very specific circumstances individuals may move from LTIA to an Incapacity Pension. Individuals receiving an Incapacity Pension are not permitted to work whilst receiving the pension. As at 31st December 2009, 9 individuals were claiming an Incapacity Pension.

P ri o r to the introduction of LTIA, an Invalidity Benefit was available to individuals with a high degree of

incapacity. These individuals were not permitted to work whilst receiving Invalidity Benefit. Their medical condition would be confirmed by a GP every 3 months. Invalidity Benefit was replaced in October 2004 but individuals in receipt of the benefit at that time were allowed to continue to claim the benefit whilst their medical condition satisfied the necessary requirements. In total there are 681 ongoing Invalidity Benefit claims with a total duration of between 5 and 10 years and 539 with a total duration of 10 years or more. As above, these figures are in respect of all claims and will include individuals receiving Income Support as well as those not receiving Income Support.

In re spect of Income Support claimants the following information is available:

Benefit Type Number of Income Support Participants claiming

this benefit

STIA 220

Incapacity pension 3

Invalidity benefit 753