Some on advantages are ‘taking the mickey’, says minister

Some folks on advantages are “taking the mickey”, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has mentioned, as the federal government seeks methods to curb welfare spending.

Kendall was chatting with ITV a couple of Division of Work and Pensions survey that advised 200,000 folks on advantages had been able to work if they’d assist.

The DWP report discovered 49% of well being and incapacity advantages claimants felt they’d by no means be capable of work once more.

However it additionally confirmed almost half (44%) of individuals with a psychological well being situation anticipated to have the ability to work in future if their well being improved.

Kendall told ITV: “I feel what the survey reveals at present is that regardless of all of the myths, lots of people who’re presently on illness or incapacity advantages wish to work.”

When requested if folks on advantages had been “pretending they can not work”, she added: “Lots of them have both simply misplaced jobs that they desperately miss, or actually wish to get again into to work as soon as they have their well being situation beneath management.

“So I feel that there are a lot of extra individuals who wish to work. I’ve little question, as there all the time have been, there are individuals who should not be on these advantages who’re taking the mickey and that isn’t adequate – we’ve got to finish that.”

The federal government says the variety of younger folks aged 16 to 34 who don’t work due to long-term illness and have a psychological well being situation has reached 270,000.

This quantity elevated by 60,000 (26%) within the final 12 months, in response to the DWP.

As of January, 9.3 million folks aged 16 to 64 within the UK had been economically inactive – an increase of 713,000 for the reason that Covid pandemic.

Final 12 months, the federal government spent £65bn on sickness benefits – a 25% enhance from the 12 months earlier than the pandemic. That determine is forecast to extend to round £100bn earlier than the following basic election.

Kendall mentioned the DWP survey, which spoke to three,401 profit recipients, confirmed the necessity to reform the present welfare system and encourage younger folks to work if they’ll.

The DWP secretary mentioned: “There may be genuinely an issue with many younger folks, significantly the Covid technology, however we will not have a scenario the place doing a day’s work is in itself seen as anxious.”

Kendall mentioned grocery store managers had instructed her some younger folks didn’t perceive work was “simply the character of life and that is not stress or strain”.

The DWP secretary is predicted to current a coverage paper on welfare reform subsequent month.

Ministers are frightened concerning the surge within the variety of folks claiming advantages for the reason that pandemic and the associated fee to the taxpayer, because the nation faces difficult financial headwinds.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has mentioned individuals who declare long-term illness advantages needs to be made to return to work “the place they’ll”.

“The essential proposition that you must search for work is correct,” he told the PJDM last year.

“Individuals must search for work, however in addition they want assist.

“That is why I’ve gone out to take a look at schemes the place companies are supporting folks again into work from long-term illness.”