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

One major solution or help would be if employers were more supportive and willing to make adjustments such as WFH, not ruling out people for a job because they have a gap in their worklife over their CV, showing more support over mental health/anxiety/ND and so on. Or, not being albeist or ageist etc. Hopefully, no one on this thread moaning about people on disability benefits are the same ones choosing not to hire certain people.

But you’d have to, or should have to, if the alternative was simply going on benefits? Why should the state pick up the bill for you to look down your nose at honest work?

It is a really worrying time, my child (18) receives UC, PIP & LCWRA. They aren't even able to go in the back garden & aren't likely to ever be able to live independently. This is just one area of their life

I have read lots but not everything. Has anyone pointed out that if you need support then you have a financial needs assessment, the money from PIP is all used to pay a PA there is none left for any of the other adjustments & expenses they need.

What's wrong with getting a job and working. Contributing to society help bring down taxes. My partner works in social housing and all he sees is couples having 5 to 7 children in 2 bedroom flats and the father isn't working. It's not sustainable people need to work the council is broke they can't afford their local people.

It wasn't guesswork it was survey research by one of the world's top universities

It’s just the truth
No point in hiding from it

A poster wrote this on a different thread but I think it’s very apt for here:

You’re saying it’s due to ND but I’d say it probably isn’t. I see many people with a very similar Goldilocks / unicorn ticklist which just keeps getting bigger or more complex as I work in recruitment. Quite often they are mums where they feel it needs to be ‘worthwhile’ leaving their kids for, not too stressful but not too menial, bring in enough income, ideally have the option to do school pick up or be term time only, don’t want to travel far, don’t want to be remote completely but not in the office too much, an exciting creative role though but not too much pressure and ideally not too much admin etc

I feel like whatever was on offer, there would always be some kind of excuse as to why they can’t do it by a large minority.

This. It’s impossible to tell the level of fraud because it’s obviously hidden

I think they might cut LCWRA. Because it won’t affect THE most vulnerable in society, like my adult dd who receives 2:1 care. At the moment, her LCWRA goes straight to the council to help pay for her care bill. But if she doesn’t receive it, the council says that she’s not required to pay anything towards that bill.

No doubt this could turn out to be very unfair for some other people though but I don’t know other circumstances.

My ex only ever had IT experience and qualifications. Between jobs he applied for the "menial" stuff... and didn't get anywhere as he had no experience in it. He just wanted a job... any job.
Even the employers of the menial stuff want experienced workers now.

And Henley Global actually dealing with the legal and financial side of their wealthy clients moving to set up in other countries
That’s actual people

Thats actual facts and figures.

The LSE article is based on interviews with 35 wealthy people from the top 1% of the country in terms of what they ‘think’ about moving…..oh ok

Me. I am on LCWRA but I don't claim PIP (and I am kicking myself because for a long time my MH team were trying to get me to apply... said I was entitled but also a concern on how the process would affect me).

Oh ffs don’t misrepresent what I said.

These couples that your partner sees will not be getting much in the way of benefits if both of them don’t work through choice.

Of course wealth buys influence, it would be naive to think otherwise.

I still think you are indulging in whataboutery here.

Of course he does.

I live in a council house with all my neighbours also living in council houses and none of us have more than 1-3 children. The vast majority also work, I don't because my son is disabled.

They will if one of the children has a diagnosis and that’s fairly routine now.

Really sorry to hear this. Yes PIP is a nightmare to claim - it really is.

They aren't researchers. There's no reason to think that their data is high quality. It wouldn't be peer reviewed for example, and there's all sorts of reasons for bias. There are various checks and balances in academic research that are absent here. I'm not saying they're wrong, I just don't regard them as a high quality resource

Because if you're exhausted from working 40 hours in a warehouse, it's going to be more difficult to properly search for the right job for you- where you could be making a more specialised and fitting contribution to society.

I wish I was lying it's where he works and who lives there it's another place in that area.

@Itsalljustinmyhead I thought you were going to engage with my facts and figures? You offered but you're strangely quiet...

Every single couple has 5-7 children? Every single one?

Really?

Near enough my partner is always complaining they want bigger house the council is broke. They complain about the condition of the property the council can't move them.

Sorry I forgot! I was watching TV. I will respond tomorrow as going to sleep now and brain is not up to numbers.

I’m guessing they have a different thought in mind
They want people back in work so
They may increase incentives ( no idea what or how ) for those people in some way fit to work and the permanently unfit to work may see a reduction in benefits
It goes along with their
Make work pay.
It’s not exactly what we would expect from Labour though
thats obviously a pure guess like all on here