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Almost a million people on sickness benefit for a decade
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=10012		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Almost a million people on sickness benefit for a decade
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... ecade.html

Quote:
According to figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions, 889,000 people have spent the last ten years on sickness benefits, costing an average of £4.2billion a year.
The welfare minister Chris Grayling said that the number of people on sickness benefit would be reduced through a new assessment system.

The problem is that as you progress through the system they up your benefits but you remain getting elements of previous benefits. So you could start off on sickness benefit but then find your condition worsening then get upgraded benefits. The people on these benefits might also be getting the highest level of disability benefits as well. Ignoring the medical conditions which seems likely if they are going to eliminate these numbers could create problems. Many could work if given the right support. Though that will mean more cost for the NHS to treat them.
Author:  Linux_User [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Almost a million people on sickness benefit for a decade
Cracking down on fraudulent claims is fine, but I know several people on DLA who wouldn't make it through a single day at work. It is these people I fear the government will try to force into work.
Author:  adidan [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Almost a million people on sickness benefit for a decade
Linux_User wrote:
Cracking down on fraudulent claims is fine, but I know several people on DLA who wouldn't make it through a single day at work. It is these people I fear the government will try to force into work.

+1

It's almost impossible for people to get the benefit in the first place and, with the changes, there are many who will be forced into work who are just not well enough to do so.

When the country needs money, in this case lost by a bunch of money grabbing frakers, the Government and press seem to make the public turn on each other and start blaming people who really shouldn't be blamed. The public are fools to fall for this. Yes, there is fraud, yes some benefits are disproportionate and the press loves to play on them, but this is not the general reality of the situation.

There are many people out there with mental health problems, for example, who now have to cope with the stress of being told they're having their benefits withdrawn when they find it almost impossible to cope with life as it is.

I wouldn't like to trade places with any of them, to then try and use them as scapegoats because they receive help is morally reprehensible.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Almost a million people on sickness benefit for a decade
Linux_User wrote:
Cracking down on fraudulent claims is fine, but I know several people on DLA who wouldn't make it through a single day at work. It is these people I fear the government will try to force into work.

+2 and the previous government were dealing with both problems. So I wonder how the coalition will eliminate these frauds and errors faster than Labour.

The problems will be compounded by the housing benefit changes. Which will push them all in to lower rent properties, competing with low paid workers and the million of unemployed.
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