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’m amazed at this.

Its hard enough to get a diagnosis. And they have to show symptoms across 2 environments. I’m not sure the psychiatrists who assessed them just made it up

This is the case with many families around here. Like I said, very routine for families to have 4 kids. 3 of them with autism/adhd, one parent on POP, carers, universal credit… I can’t even imagine how much this is costing the country.

As a society, we've given people with a disability a very hard road to hoe. The lines between disabled and not disabled are so blurred now that really anyone can claim to be disabled. It must be infuriating for people with genuine disabilities to have their challenges exploited.
I can't imagine anyone wants to see people with a genuine disability penalised, and it's awful that they're being put in this position by bloody malingerers. It's shameful.
I have a close family member who has exploited being very overweight for decades now, they've had about 25 years of benefits, no incentive to address their weight issues because it would make claiming benefits trickier. I really don't know what the answer is with people like that - I do know though that I don't want to fund them any longer.

• The total number of claimants has increased by a third in five years (up 1.8 million)

This is what I find crazy. That there are now one third more people claiming than there were pre-pandemic. Are there really that many more people who are disabled now than before? Or did a lot of people just really love being paid to be at home and do nothing during the pandemic and looked for a way to continue that lifestyle afterwards? Call me a cynic, if you like, but I'm afraid that's what it looks like to me.

I didn’t share them to offer my thesis, I shared them as the data demonstrates the objective reason why the system is under review - it’s rapidly rising cost.

No, I don’t think analysis on tax avoidance is necessary to discuss the challenge of the growing sickness and benefits situation. Is it a problem? Sure. Does it mean the growing cost of sickness and benefits is any less relevant? No.

Then stop calling them sickness benefits. they're not 'sickness' benefits.

The people claiming these aren't a little bit ill, they're significantly impaired by conditions, illness, and physical limitations that mean they need extra financial help.

PIP and the UC uplift for people too ill to work are not the same thing, and need to stop being lumped in together as 'sickness' benefits.

Referring to them as 'sickness' benefits reduces what they are.

One thing that doesn't seem to be available now is a decent "help to work scheme." When I was unable to work due to mental health back in the early 00s, I went on a government scheme that helpes get you into work. The employers were given incentives to higher people, aswell as the workers themself. I remember a company called Remploy, who employed disabled people too.

If your going for an interview today that has already another 50 applying for the job. They aren't going to employ people who have been off sick with depression, or with another condition that means they may need help. They will chose someone who doesnt need help. It's very hard to get a job these days if you aren't full of confidence and have good qualifications. I'm all for getting some people off benefits into work but I bet you the support will be shit.

No, if you see my post up thread you’ll see all the reasons why there should have been far, far more disabled people in the past.

Every time there is one of these threads there is always somebody with a ‘friend’ in a situation like this. 🙄

If she has a disability car for her kids then they must be in receipt of high rate mobility allowance. This is extremely difficult to be awarded, you HAVE to provide substantial evidence and mobility needs have to be pretty severe.

Are you really suggesting that large corporations not paying equitable tax into the government purse doesn’t impact on the pot to pay for state services???
If there’s less going in, there is less which can be paid out.
If you forgive tax dodging and fraud by corporations, ethically you have to forgive individuals too.

The root cause is the nhs can’t treat people soon enough so conditions deteriorate when that needn’t be the case for some illnesses. This is the real problem.

Literally everyone on the DLA threads are awarded if you read them. Hardly anyone is rejected, and not all of them offer reams of evidence. That’s not a judgement on them as individuals, but take a look.

The UK government spends £100billion/year servicing it's debts. With benign interest rates.
We will be bankrupt soon and then no one will be having anything.

Even if there were, it doesn’t make the question of how and what should be funded given the increased numbers of people claiming for it

We can’t just keep taxing businesses if their workforce is dwindling. We have the highest tax burden since WW2. Our growth is nonexistent and we are on the brink of recession. Further taxes on businesses will finish the job.

you can't 'convince' drs your kids have anything, the diagnosis process for ADHD in children is extensive.

You also can't get DLA unless you can prove they're significantly impaired by their condition. I should know, been there, done that with my own son and the amount of medical evidence i had to provide for him to receive it was immense.. same when he aged out and i had to upgrade it to PIP.

Comments like this are absolute bollocks, encouraged by petty jealously and massive misunderstanding of the conditions and the hoops you have to jump through to get a diagnosis.

Behave yourself.

At least they will be net contributors. Unlike anyone on benefits. It's not a valid comparison.

The government calls them ‘disability and sickness benefits’, which is the language I have used throughout.

I think you’re wrong. The British public didn’t find it easy to comply with lockdowns (in fact disabled people were used as a blackmail tool to control !). People were desperate to get out (look at the ridiculous’eat out to help out’)

Covid is clearly a massive long term problem. Seems rather than accept that and deal with it the government would rather punish the sick and disabled

I have a disabled child and have been through the process, I also know multiple other families with disabled children.
You absolutely do need to provide evidence and it is not an easy process.
Nobody is getting a mobility car for their children who doesn’t have a genuine need.

Also , I’m really missing the threads about dogs in cafes and shops - anyone else ? Seems they’ve been replaced with posts about PIP 🤦

I agree. I am so sick of the disability bashing on MN atm by people who have no idea what it’s like to care for a disabled child. I was looking after some NT children at Christmas and I couldn’t believe how easy they are. That doesn’t mean I’d change my children but they need everything adjusted for them in an NT world. which involves more money.

And I’m sick of people saying ‘what did people (adults) do years ago?’ I’ll tell you - they struggled along, hiding in their houses, out of work permanently and they relied on their siblings to take care of them if they had any. Those without a support network probably died or became homeless.

Unfortunately the job market is not very accommodating for people with long covid, ME and other poorly misunderstood conditions. Some of these people could possibly hold down a part time job if they could work from home with access to their bed. Some conditions are a lot easier to manage when laying down but what employer allows that? Everyone cannot work under the same conditions.

I always find it hilarious how professional drs have been ‘tricked’ yet the unqualified poster knows better and can just tell that their friends child doesn’t really have anything wrong. How does that work? I’ve seen it on multiple threads.

'Given the increased cost of business needs all workers will now have their salaries halved.

It's just not affordable anymore.'

Not fair is it? You did nothing wrong. It's not your fault. How are you supposed to live?

This is exactly what's happening to disabled people and your rhetoric is disgusting.