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A new testing regime for sickness benefits is rejecting more than two thirds of applicants.
Data from the first wave of the system has suggested 2.6million claimants are actually fit to work.
The figures, seen by welfare experts but still to be released to the public, also say that in some regions up to 90 per cent of those on long-term ill-health payments should go on unemployment rolls.
Although yet to be confirmed, the results offer the Government a chance to drastically reduce the £12.5billion incapacity benefit bill.
Lord Freud, Conservative welfare reform spokesman, said the system could raise the bar for controlling sickness benefits: "The tragedy is that it has taken so long to tighten the system, with the effect that hundreds of thousands of people have been locked into long-term dependency."
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "It is encouraging that people are being helped to reach their potential."
Reader views (2)
THE UK IS IN DIRE STRAITS ME THINKS THERE ARE NO JOBS JUS THOSE SLAVE LABOUR ONES THAT PAY THE PEANUT MINIMUM WAGE NEW LABOUR OH GOD GIVE ME STRENGTH,
- James Fennessey, london, 14/07/2009 01:17
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Add those 2.6million to the UK unemployed spin and waffle official figures - that currently puts OVER 4.7million unemployed as of today.
By Christmas there will be 6 million unemployed in the UK.
By the end of 2010 there will be 7 million unemployed.
Add-in the 6 million public sector wasters - and that does not actually leave many in real work.
The bottom line is - THERE ARE NO JOBS IN THE UK - they have vanished down the plughole or have been taken by migrants who will work for peanuts.
JOE PUBLIC COUNTS FOR NOTHING.
ONLY MP's, LORDS AND BANKERS COUNT IN THIS JACKBOOT AUTOCRACY.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK, 13/07/2009 11:45
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