7.4 million people claim some form of disability or incapacity benefits

[MidnightPatrol]

Given the various back and forth of discussion on the reduction in disability and incapacity benefits, not much data on the debate has been shared - it’s a mainly emotional debate.

So for context, the figures:

• 7.4 million people claim sickness benefits of some kind
• The total number of claimants has increased by a third in five years (up 1.8 million)
• 1 in 10 working age adults claims, and 1 in 12 school aged children
• 1.2 million people aged under 25 claim sickness benefits, a rise of two thirds in 5 years - 1 in 15 claiming something
• 4 million adults claim sickness benefit of some kind, up from 2.8 million in 2019. Two thirds of that increase is people under 50.
• 2.5 million people claim UC health benefits, up 500k people this year alone - in 2019 less than 500k people claimed this
• 1.8 million have no requirement to look for work
• Sickness benefits for working age adults are expected to cost £70b by 2030 - a third of the cost of the NHS

"would expect from people who seem unable, or unwilling, to address the figures"

not emotional abuse and certainly not "the most obtuse and bullying behaviour"

Just questioning how to raise our capital, without screwing over the citizens of our country?

…you do realise that infographic is from 2013?

I contribute as someone on higher rate PIP

By people working.

Stunning concept, I know.

I know I'm probably wasting my breath but I had to try. Especially since right now DLA seems to make people automatically think ADHD/ASD when yes, many parents claim for that but many parents also claim DLA for so many different reasons too.

Anyone can suddenly find themselves with a disabled child, no one thinks it will ever happen to them until it does and all of a sudden they have to quit their jobs, claim UC and rely on a system others seem to resent.

I'd gladly swap the money to have my healthy child back. I'm sure the vast majority of parents would rather their healthy child than the money too.

and contributing fairly to our tax system?

Who isn’t contributing fairly? We have the highest tax burden since WW2. The top 1% of earnings pay 30% of income tax. The only people not contributing fairly are those not contributing at all for spurious reasons.

To be fair I didn’t realise you could claim for ADHD. And I have a DS with diagnosed ADHD. So that does need to be looked at. I’m not sure the thinking with payments for that? People with ADHD are perfectly capable of working.

As an aside his ADHD has cost us a fortune in terms of a diagnosis, medication, school change. But we are lucky and we can afford it.

I don’t think most people are saying this. I doubt there are many people on this thread who would deny the growing number of people on sickness benefits indicates a serious problem in our society.

What most of us are arguing is that simply cutting benefits won’t solve that problem and may well exacerbate it. At the very least, it will harm many vulnerable people who have done nothing wrong.

Actually addressing the problem would be complex and would, I’m afraid, cost more money initially. But we invest in order to save in the long term.

I am confident that simple cuts will not address people’s health issues, not result in savings, and will actually result in increased spending on appeals. Oh, and they’ll be ruinous for many genuinely disabled people too, into the bargain.

That’s what I object to. Obviously I don’t think it’s all fine and dandy that we have so many people on sickness benefits, either socially or economically.

But the idea that this can be addressed with a massive pair of scissors is just reactionary nonsense driven by the worst of human impulses.

It’s not a case of if we’re questioned we’ll kill ourselves, like some kind of threat to get you to stop discussing it. That’s a disgusting take on things.

It’s a genuine feeling of ‘what’s the point in us being here’ when people don’t believe we’re actually ill and we’re just milking the system for an easy life. We often feel we’re worthless because we can’t contribute to life anymore. (I appreciate some PIP claimants work).

Not always. My dd was in ND burnout for 2 years. She got PIP.

You can claim DLA for anything as long as you can prove your child has higher care needs compared to other children their age. Your child doesn't need to have a diagnosis.

Perhaps that’s an issue with our Governmental system
Labour will want to make an impact during their tenure and before the next general election
They will want to shout about improvements and savings and ultimately their successes

This system doesn’t look in the long term enough

I totally agree with you there. The short termism is baked into the system.

"We have the highest tax burden since WW2" It's definitely not the residents of our country that are abrogating their responsibility.

"Who isn’t contributing fairly?" It's all the pals of our politicians!

Which pals? Can you name some?

Ah I’m pleased that help was there for her.

😂

Take that as a no?

We can’t support a growing benefits bills regardless of who is claiming the benefits.

The nhs is also not fit for purpose.

For every 100% honest claim there will always be a chancer exaggerating their symptoms too which is why everyone knows someone who gets it and shouldn’t or should get a lower rate which is where people end up demonised.

I know one personally. They should get some help but not as much as they do. It’s an open discussion within the family that if ever offered any help they take it even if not needed so it’s there and looks good for renewal. Think hand rails and special bath seats. Things which are never actually used but now the house is accessible. The persons partner is their career but the person is not more uncapable of being left alone than say a teenager if you thrown some food there way and say don’t answer the door to strangers or burn the house down making chips.

How do we solve the issue. Well again unless every single person pays more tax we cannot. People are living longer, people who would have previously not made it long after birth or infant hood are and requiring a lot of support.

We have moved to a place of life at all costs regardless of quality. I watched the my babies life who decides before. Doctors were saying before parents would say no it’s enough now doctors are having to take parents to court because they just won’t let go. Medical advances have saved lives but ruined actual living of lives. What is a life stuck in bed all day hooked up machines ventilators soiling one’s self. To never talk to never work to never do anything but exist is no life.

Also when does personal responsibility kick it. Let’s look at convenience here. Back in the olden days and today’s hippies (me included) people used reusable nappies, reusable sanity products. So a young child or even adult would of used reusable now it’s throwing loads of disposable nappies/pants/pads in landfill expecting the nhs/benefits to pick up
the cost and it’s bad for the environment. Double edged sword there again when people want to blame environmental factors as well for the increase in medical needs.

Who wants to listen and actually change and fix things other than just more money…. Not enough.

have you heard of Mark Twain @Itsalljustinmyhead?

Long Covid.

Ive been stuck in bed for 18 months. The fatigue is unreal. Cant even wash my own hair

No I didn't either. My AuDHD DS cost us a bloody fortune when he was little. DLA would have been much needed had I known it was available.
But now he's 13, he really doesn't have any exceptional needs except for 2 private psychiatrist appointments a year costing £800 and that's it. The GP went shared care for meds thank God because for two years we were spending £130 per month on meds!

And your point is....?

If you can’t work it out from the OP you’re not up to the conversation