Scandal of 'incapacity' cash
MORE than a million welfare claimants on Incapacity Benefit never returned to work over the last decade, new figures revealed yesterday.
A total of 1.07 million people have died or reached retirement while claiming the benefit since 1998.
The number is based on figures between 1998 and 2007 plus likely totals for 2008 and 2009.
The figures renewed concerns about the spiralling cost of sickness benefits under Labour, with almost £100billion paid out in Incapacity Benefit over the last 10 years.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Theresa May said the figures showed Labour was happy to throw claimants on the scrap heap instead of helping them back to work. She added: “A Conservative government will reassess everyone on Incapacity Benefit and those who can work will be transferred on to Jobseekers Allowance.”
Currently, around 2.6 million people claim Incapacity Benefit or its replacement, Employment and Support Allowance.
Jim Knight, the employment minister, said the total number of people on jobless benefits had fallen by 300,000 under Labour.
