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

I know for a fact that my son is entitled to the DLA he receives but people like him could end up being collateral damage.

Of course, DLA is safe....for now. But I wouldn't be surprised if that was next.

Actually dreading tomorrow 😞

The trouble is that it's the few who are paying in.

I don't have a requirement to work but I work?

☝🏼

As a taxpayer, I don't think I like that option very much. You want me to pay for you...? ODFO dearest.

Lots of people really need that help and support. For many reasons.

A proportion of people once did but their condition has since changed and they are now under no obligation to change anything. I know people with constant trips and visits and events. Out most weekends and regular holidays. But getting money as if they need full time care, brand new cars. Unfortunately some people know how to play the system.

I don't know what the answer is without hurting those genuinely in need.

The more people in law incomes are struggling for money and see others get away with this the more fed up they get.

You'd rather live with depression and anxiety than work ? You have no idea what you're talking about 😡

That's fine, now let's talk about waiting lists for those services. Unemployed people can't afford to go private so are forced to wait months to see anyone.

If they are going to curb benefits of all kind, they need to start with benefits paid to those people who are not British citizens.
Brits don’t get benefits in other countries, non Brits should not get benefits there.
If Labour go for their own, they will be screwed at the next Election.

Which the country can’t afford

"mummy, back in the 20s, when the cost of food started going up and the billionaires were buying elections, what did you do?"

"Nothing darling, I was too busy worrying about imaginary fraudulent PIP claims"

I have done shit minimum wage jobs: I packed stamps for collectors in sets of 100 one summer in a hot loft without ventilation for weeks during summer university vacation. It was dull. But it was work. It paid for milk and rent and food and fun. I was 20 and not stupid enough to get pregnant at that age.

It's only those who say they have depression and anxiety will be affected. People with actual disabilities will be fine. They want to weed out the piss taker's.

Do you have a news article that says it will specifically be about anxiety and depression?
I will wait for you to go to the toilet so you can retrieve it.

and even if you get it, they are so overstretched that it isn't enough.

My son gets one weekly 30 minute physio session via the NHS. The goal is to get him walking again after a serious illness, he can't walk at all right now and he isn't going to with physio only once a week.

I use his DLA to pay for private physio and hydrotherapy.

As far as I know Labour won the last elections. Are they billionaires? Really?

@IAmNotASheep

"which goes hand in hand with my pp on Labour playing the game well by hitting others first that are not traditional Labour voters ( and rarely garner support )"

Are you are implying Labour are chasing Tory votes then? Oh no!

Dubious tactic then, as if tory voters give a damn about anyone other than themselves because they're all fine, is that what you're meaning?

Their lives have never experienced hardship nor depravation because they worked hard, unlike the rest, who are just benefit scroungers?

''@Careertimenow · Today 20:54

It's only those who say they have depression and anxiety will be affected. People with actual disabilities will be fine. They want to weed out the piss taker's.''

The ignorance and stupidity on this thread is unbelievable.

Depression can be crippling and some people with anxiety can't even leave their house.

Educate yourself before you post this type of offensive nonsense.

I have always voted Labour but I will never vote for them again for as long as I live. I can't support a party that chooses to go after pensioners and the disabled rather than putting in place a wealth tax.

You won't be happy until the pot dry up and those in need get nothing.

Neither sound like good options TBH!

I don't want anyone to end up with nothing.
But if people are thrown off of benefits, then what are they meant to do? Where are all these jobs? No one can seem to answer that one.

Nobody! " is getting a car" for anxiety. Only those on high rate mobility can use their pip for/ towards a car. 🙄🤨

No. Not sure I’m saying that

I was thinking
Hit the traditional Conservative type ( if we can generalise here ) voters first as a sweetener for traditional Labour voters.
Labour voters seemed OK with taxing education and farmers and to a certain extent removing winter fuel payments from pensioners……that’s the sweatener.

It makes sense to do that first before tackling benefits from Labours point of view

@Cattreesea I too despair of Starmer's Labour, but I could never vote for those who subscribe to the "I'm all right Jack" mentality

It is agony.