Three quarters of benefit claimants 'fit to work'


Figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions show that three-quarters of sickness benefit claimants are fit enough to work, or drop their claim before it is processed.

Statistics gathered over a 22 month period ending in August 2010 show that 887,300 of 1,175,700 applicants for employment and support allowance in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK did not qualify for benefits. Just over a third of applicants (36%) did not proceed with their claim as far as the medical assessment stage, and of those that did, 39% were deemed fit to work and therefore ineligible for benefits.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling commented that the focus would now turn to existing claimants already collecting benefits, saying:

"We now know very clearly that the vast majority of new claimants for sickness benefits are in fact able to return to work.

"That's why we are turning our attention to existing claimants, who were simply abandoned on benefits."

Mr Grayling was careful to pledge continued "support to those who cannot work", but anyone deemed fit would be put "back on the road to employment."




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