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60% of long-term benefits claimants 'could go back to work', admits minister
Last updated at 12:37pm on 07.08.08
A young man looking for work checks a vacancy in a Job Centre. Unemployment.
Six out of ten sickness benefits claimants could go back to work, official research found yesterday.
A study commissioned by Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell revealed that almost all workers with health problems coming on to benefits could return to their jobs if given proper support from the outset.
And the numbers claiming long-term incapacity handouts could be cut by up to 60 per cent, according to a report by the University of York.
This would save around £6billion a year.
The researchers said having a job could actually help those with stress or depression recover more quickly.
Mr Purnell said the findings vindicate the Government's decision to create a target of getting one million incapacity benefit claimants back to work within the next decade.
But the figures prompted the Conservatives to accuse the Government of a decade of failure on welfare.
Tory work and pensions spokesman Chris Grayling said: 'I have to say that the attitude of ministers at the moment is quite breathtaking.
'It's as if they're trying to airbrush out of existence their failings of the last ten years.
'The latest pronouncements of James Purnell are frankly little more than hypocrisy. Under Labour millions of people have been abandoned to a life of dependency.'
The study commissioned by James Purnell revealed most workers with health problems who were receiving benefits could return to their jobs with the right support
The annual bill for paying incapacity claimants, including housing and council tax benefits, has reached an estimated £16billion a year.
The total number of incapacity claimants is around 2.5million - or seven per cent of the working age population - compared with just 720,000 in 1979.
More than half those have been on benefits for more than five years. In February 2001, 998,000 had been claiming for half a decade - or 41 per cent.
But that has now risen to 1.5million, well over half of the total.
The number citing a mental condition, such as stress or depression, has risen to 40 per cent of the total, compared with less than a quarter in 1997.
Jane Aston, of the Institute for Employment Studies, which helped compile the research, said that many of those people would be better off with regular employment.
'We found that early intervention is critical in addressing mental health problems at work,' she said.
'Often, adjustments to the person's role or workplace need only be minor and inexpensive.
'Line managers in any organisation have a vital role in recognising the signs of mental health problems, and being confident enough to talk to staff about it.'
The Government is replacing incapacity benefit this year with an employment and sup-allowance.
From 2010, all long-term claimants will have to attend 'work capability assessments' to see if they can get a job.
Those who are severely disabled will receive a higher rate of benefit and will have no obligation to look for work.
But critics say the Government's own projections show it expects to miss the target of getting a million incapacity benefits back into work by almost 70 per cent.
The small print of its forecasts suggest ministers expect only 270,000 fewer to be claiming by 2015-2016.
Mr Purnell said: 'Our radical proposals to reform the welfare system are designed to ensure people can stay at or return to work if they are able to. This evidence shows working can be an important step in people's recovery.
'We have proposed doubling the amount of money we make available to employers to adapt the workplace to accommodate employees with specific needs.'
Reader views (8)
Anon, UK - If you look at the heading for the article, it mentions 60% capable of going to work. That leaves 40% who need and receive support. From what I see people are decrying sponging by the ones who choose to cash in on lax or inconsistent policies, not the ones who are in real need.
- Rogan, DFW TX, 08/08/2008 18:50
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What happened to the British spirit? Does the satisfaction of earning your keep no longer exist for the majority of people? Basic dignity comes from knowing that you are a useful, productive member of society. The Government's main job should be to provide the conditions for people to be able to fulfil this. They are not there to mollycoddle those who can't be bothered to try.
- Mark, London, UK, 08/08/2008 14:16
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The whole system is totally inconsistent! I know of one person in his late 50s with severe back problems who receives no benefits because he has been classified as fit for work despite being unable to remain in any position (standing, sitting, lying down) for more than short time. Another person I know of (about 15 years younger) receives everything going, rushes around like a demented Arthur Daley and smokes 40+ a day. The main difference is that the latter has four children and the former none, which suggests that health barely comes into the equation.
- Michael, London, 08/08/2008 13:28
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I was in receipt of incapacity benefit for and completely unable to work due to bullying and humiliation in the workplace for many years. When I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and saw my GP who said I was unable to work I made a stand and went to my local union who were no help whatsoever my employers quickly sacked me as I could not fulfull my contract any longer, I wonder why, and I was a nervous wreck and could not find alternative work. I saw ny own GP regularly and was assessed by a government doctor annually. Before you condemn people on benefit please find out all the facts first.
- Anon, UK, 08/08/2008 11:00
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Everyone has their pet theories and favourite hatreds - that's how the world works, unfortunately. Also, unfortunately, Britain has a government that leaves itself wide open to every real and imagined claim of wrong doing under the Sun.
If the Labour party were half as good at running the country as they were at attacking every fist they can find with their chins, Britain would probably be the 50/50 politics place it used to be, and at least tolerable to live in.
- Rogan, DFW TX, 08/08/2008 04:59
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"60% of long-term benefits claimants 'could go back to work', admits minister". What a shocker!
- Brandon Thomas, London SW7, 08/08/2008 01:44
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I think you have to look at all the armed forces personnel who have proudly gone back to work after having limbs blown off, etc. for inspiration. Obviously there are going to be people who are too ill or incapacitated and who need help (knowing this Government, probably more than they're actually getting) - but don't forget that those drawing Incapacity Benefit, are not showing up in the 'Unemploymed' figures: I bet expect they've enlarged one group to reduce the other.
- Roz, Chamonix, France, 07/08/2008 13:23
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Pensions Secretary James Purnell could have paid less than £24million for his department's furniture; MPs & government ministers could work for less; the government could tell the truth occasionally; MPs and government minister could be banned from taking up lucrative directorships in the private sector for 5 years after they leave their public sector job; Tony Blair could be taken to court over forcing Britain to invade Iraq and for the subsequent possibly illegal collateral damage; the government could be held accountable for th eBAE scandal; the government could be held accountable for their part and the part of its regulators for failing to regulate properly causing the colossal losses for all those with pensions at Equitable Life; in fact the government could be held accountable for the failing education system, the failing NHS, and the list just goes on and on as to what "could" happen!
- Fraser, Telford Park, 07/08/2008 01:50
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