UK: 400,000 'were trying it on' to get sickness benefits

This is what "entitlements" lead to - people scamming to get free money - money they feel entitled to! Now that the UK is in a spot of financial bother, they all of a sudden are doing their job properly and actually checking entitlement receivers out. If the global financial crisis has forced the UK to review their welfare payouts, then at least something good has come out of it.

 

Just 6 per cent of one million claimants who tried to obtain sickness benefit in the last two years of Labour were actually incapable of working, it emerged last night.

Astonishing figures laid bare how 94 per cent of new claimants were either ‘trying it on’ or would be fit enough to work in the near future.

Four in ten – nearly 400,000 – were fit to start work immediately. Of those who applied for the £96.85-a-week sickness benefit between 2008 and 2010, only 61,800 were found to be ill enough to automatically qualify.

Thousands were rejected after trying to claim benefits on the grounds of sexual infections, skin diseases or digestive disorders. And just one in 20 of those who said a mental condition made work impossible were given the green light to proceed with a claim.

Employment minister Chris Grayling said the ‘unacceptable’ figures strengthened the determination of Ministers – who want to slash the £12.5 billion sickness welfare bill – to help the fit to get back to work.

Welfare shake-up: Employment minister Chris Grayling said the figures were 'unacceptable'

The Department for Work and Pensions figures, covering October 2008 until May 2010, show 39 per cent of claimants were fit enough to go to work immediately. They were taken off the newly-labelled Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and placed on the less lucrative Job Seeker’s Allowance. Nearly four in ten – 36 per cent – dropped their claims before they could undergo medical tests, conducted by private contractor Atos, to check whether they really are ill.

In total 2.61  million were claiming ESA and the old incapacity benefit in the period up to May 2010.

Pilot schemes have begun in Aberdeen and Burnley which use a tougher test to assess existing claimants.

Mr Grayling said: ‘These figures show just how many people are found to be fit for work and not entitled to ESA. Our new work programme will ensure those found fit for work will get the help they need to get a job.

‘Those found too sick or disabled to work will continue to receive the support they need to lead fulfilling lives.’

The figures also reveal a huge rate of appeals by claimants challenging their assessments. One in three of those deemed to be healthy launch an appeal against the Department for Work and Pensions. Forty per cent win and are placed on incapacity benefit.

But officials insist just 3,500 more people were put on permanent ESA as a result of appeals. Further changes will be made to reduce the rate of appeals, an official said.

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