260 under-25s on sickness benefit in B&NES
More than 250 young people in Bath and North East Somerset are claiming sickness benefits, sparking criticism that they had been “written off”.
Employment Minister Chris Grayling said he was shocked at the number of people aged under 25 ‘parked’ on incapacity benefit (IB).
He pointed to it as evidence that the previous Labour administration had lost control of the benefit system.
Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions reveal that 260 people aged 18 to 24 in the B&NES are claiming IB, and a further 530 in Wiltshire.
Nationally, 99,630 people aged between 18 and 24 - and a further 1,240 aged 16 and 17 - were claiming IB. Payments range from £68.95 a week to £91.40 a week.
It comes amid moves to slash the welfare bill, with the emphasis on whether claimants are fit to work. Sickness benefits cost the taxpayer £12.5 billion a year.
Mr Grayling said: “I'm shocked at the scale of the challenge we now face. Thousands of young people with their lives ahead of them just parked on sickness benefits with no way out.
“That will change. We are going to assess everyone currently on incapacity benefit to see what help and support they need to get them back to work.
“For those who are genuinely too sick there will be more help not less. For those who can work there will be a proper programme put in place to help them overcome the barriers that have stopped them working and get them into a job.”
The Government is to further roll out a controversial health test to decide who will get long-term sickness benefits.
There are concerns the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is finding people with serious illnesses “fit for work”, and so end up penalising the genuinely sick.
While it is already used for new claimants the new coalition government wants to press ahead with a plan to re-process the millions of people who are still on the old incapacity benefit system - using the WCA test.
At the moment, three quarters of those new claimants for sickness benefits either drop out or are found fit for work.
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by David, Bath
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 8:46PM
“Funnily enough, a carbon copy of this article (with geographical amendments) appeared on the Sheffield Star website today- and that's a Johnston Press newspaper, not a Northcliffe one.
Nice to see everyone's singing from the same hymn sheet, though.”
by Paul Wiltshire, Deputy editor
Monday, September 06 2010, 7:21AM
“Ukbix: The reason there may be several versions of this story tailored to different areas may be that they were written by the same journalist - our Parliamentary correspondent, who covers a number of papers across the south west. There is no, repeat no, campaign - not by us, anyway.”
by ukbix, the net
Sunday, September 05 2010, 12:33PM
“Perhaps this newspaper should show that it is capable of real journalism, and it is fair, and is not willingly discriminating against the sick and disabled with biased reporting.
Try going back to Mr Grayling and ask him, just exactly how the assessment clarifies what sort of work you are capable of?
Perhaps he could explain why they are urgently reviewing the ESA system?
Perhaps he could explain why the CAB have condemned it as unfit for purpose.
Perhaps he could explain why the 'software' used to assess people is not allowed to be proven as unfit for purpose by the public who fund it's development?
Perhaps he could explain why they need to retest people when those people already have been tested, and ARE retested on a regular basis to show that the ARE NOT capable of working.
Perhaps he could explain why when their own figures show fraud on IB is 0.5 percent or less, there was a target set in advance (of any testing) to fail 1 million people (which is massively more than 0.5 percent).
Perhaps he could explain why some people are DYING before there appeal is heard?
Perhaps he could explain why criminal charges are not brought to bear on those responsible for the clear corruption in the system?
Many people have proven that ATOS LIE on medical reports, and the DWP are making reasonable decisions (even the tribunal service published a report slamming the qaulity of ATOS reports and DWP decision making.)
Perhaps, when the paper has grilled the sources they used for this article, and published all the responses, then they can hold their head high, and not be thought of as part of the campaign of hatred against the sick and disabled.
By asking for further clarification and either updating this article or publishing a new one, at least your paper will not be seen to harrassing and victimising the sick and disabled.
I note with interest ,many, many newspapers are running virtually identical stories, in each different area, tailored to the area. This proves beyond a doubt, its not a one of, its a campaign against the sick and disabled.
Prove you are not that sick and twisted, do some real journalism.”
by JC, Bath
Saturday, September 04 2010, 9:15PM
“Perhaps Mr Grayling might also like to condemn those who treat paying tax as an optional extra.......”
by Gee, The Bhundu
Saturday, September 04 2010, 6:37PM
“David, "Many were formerly hard-working taxpayers who suffered industrial accidents and require intensive and long-term therapies before they can re-enter the workforce". Aged 16 to 24?
One suspects that many of them are suffering from that well known industrial disability of "too strong for light work". I also know a few who are on sickness benefit on account of their treatment for drug addiction.”