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"Almost 2,000 obese people were awarded incapacity benefit over the past 12 months, while billions more was handed out for complaints ranging from acne to leprosy.
A total of �7.4 billion in incapacity benefit was shared between 2.7 million people, among them alcoholics, drug addicts and people with sleep and eating disorders.
The full list of ailments, which was obtained using a Freedom of Information request, may fuel suspicion that people are being pushed into claiming benefits to lower the official unemployment statistics.
Stress appeared to keep 50,000 claimants off work, while 15,600 claimed with what is described as "malaise and fatigue".
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/11/19/nfat119.xml
I await your views...
A total of �7.4 billion in incapacity benefit was shared between 2.7 million people, among them alcoholics, drug addicts and people with sleep and eating disorders.
The full list of ailments, which was obtained using a Freedom of Information request, may fuel suspicion that people are being pushed into claiming benefits to lower the official unemployment statistics.
Stress appeared to keep 50,000 claimants off work, while 15,600 claimed with what is described as "malaise and fatigue".
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/11/19/nfat119.xml
I await your views...
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it shouldnt have got to the stage where people with silly minor issues can claim benefit, i hope they are the minority and can be kicked off the system without effecting the claims of those who genuinly need financial help.
But will the government like it when the unemployment figures start to jump considerably? Im sure they hide many away in these incapacity figures.
But will the government like it when the unemployment figures start to jump considerably? Im sure they hide many away in these incapacity figures.
I read about this, this morning. Also some of them claim to be too spotty to work or have nail disorders. It beggers belief.
Here's the link
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/arti cle479404.ece
Here's the link
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/arti cle479404.ece
Ah but i lowers the 'unemployment' figures. These would rocket if you really went to town on Disability benefit.
Its a shame really because it makes those that really would love to work but cannot because of a real problem categorized with the shirkers.
You do have to wonder though just how many disablements would stop you working from ANY job.
Its a shame really because it makes those that really would love to work but cannot because of a real problem categorized with the shirkers.
You do have to wonder though just how many disablements would stop you working from ANY job.
-- answer removed --
I got job seekers allowence for 10 weeks when finishing uni, as I couldn't find any work up until I started my graduate job. So I got my �42.50 a week, and all I had to do was turn up every other week with some evidence that I had applied for jobs!
People in the job centre would brag about how easy it was not to get a job! They'd apply for things they didn't even have the basic qualifications for, then wave their rejection letter and get their benefits (JSA, housing benefit etc...). The form also focussed on what you couldnt do i.e. if you didn't drive and there wasn't decent public transport, you'd only have to apply for jobs within a 2 mile radius. If you didn't sleep well, you didn't have to apply to shift jobs etc...
The whole system is a joke, and SO easy to play! And obviously alot of these people were better off on benefits than the minimum wage, so just didn't want to work!
I think all those seeking employment should be made to do a 30 hour community service. I would have LOVED to do some work, but the woman even made me give up my volunteering job at the old people's home because i'd loose my benefit if I did that!!
People in the job centre would brag about how easy it was not to get a job! They'd apply for things they didn't even have the basic qualifications for, then wave their rejection letter and get their benefits (JSA, housing benefit etc...). The form also focussed on what you couldnt do i.e. if you didn't drive and there wasn't decent public transport, you'd only have to apply for jobs within a 2 mile radius. If you didn't sleep well, you didn't have to apply to shift jobs etc...
The whole system is a joke, and SO easy to play! And obviously alot of these people were better off on benefits than the minimum wage, so just didn't want to work!
I think all those seeking employment should be made to do a 30 hour community service. I would have LOVED to do some work, but the woman even made me give up my volunteering job at the old people's home because i'd loose my benefit if I did that!!
-- answer removed --
lemon, youre right, the system and the job centre do make it easy for thousands to claim when they could get a job and just choose not to.
I once advertised a job within my company, i went to the job centre to ask a question about it and overheard a conversation with an employee there and a benefit claimant. The claimant was read a list of job and he had an excuse for everyone of them. Wages too low, too far to travel, too early a start etc etc. he claimed with ours that he would get more financially if he stayed on the benefits.
I have an old friend who really really does not want to work, his wife is the same. She got a job for an insurance company doing telesales and decided she'd rather go back on benefits and have another child than continue to work so she just quit. They get less on benefits than if both were working full time but they are happier to stay as they are, which is something Ive never been able to understand.
I once advertised a job within my company, i went to the job centre to ask a question about it and overheard a conversation with an employee there and a benefit claimant. The claimant was read a list of job and he had an excuse for everyone of them. Wages too low, too far to travel, too early a start etc etc. he claimed with ours that he would get more financially if he stayed on the benefits.
I have an old friend who really really does not want to work, his wife is the same. She got a job for an insurance company doing telesales and decided she'd rather go back on benefits and have another child than continue to work so she just quit. They get less on benefits than if both were working full time but they are happier to stay as they are, which is something Ive never been able to understand.
Lemon I completely agree with you on the community service thing - if so called 'job seekers' had to do something in their time off they'd probably be much more likely to want to find a job! They should be provided with a list of available community service and if they refuse to do any they should get their allowance stopped. Fat chance of anything like that every being started though.
Generally I just think the whole system is flawed - if you can get more on benefits than you can for going to work, who would go to work? Benefits should always be lower than minimum wage to make people want to go out to work.
I read somewhere recently that the cost of benefits was more than that of the NHS and the education system combined - makes you feel a bit sick really....
Generally I just think the whole system is flawed - if you can get more on benefits than you can for going to work, who would go to work? Benefits should always be lower than minimum wage to make people want to go out to work.
I read somewhere recently that the cost of benefits was more than that of the NHS and the education system combined - makes you feel a bit sick really....
Well I'm off to claim my benefit. I have an ingrown toenail.
Seriously, it does make things so bad for those who have genuine reasons for not being able to work. Years ago the rules were very, very strict and people were denied benefit when they were really unable to work. It seems it has gone completely the other way, and yes I believe it is to make the unemployment statistics looks better.
Seriously, it does make things so bad for those who have genuine reasons for not being able to work. Years ago the rules were very, very strict and people were denied benefit when they were really unable to work. It seems it has gone completely the other way, and yes I believe it is to make the unemployment statistics looks better.
As someone with knowledge about claiming unemployment benefits you have to get into the psyche of the claimer. Unless you are under 40 and got relevent skills the labour market is not on your side. If you do not possess these a trip to the job centre can be very off-putting. There are jobs about paying the minimum legal wage but for many this is not sufficient to cover living costs for a family.
To rise above this requires intense paid training for a new skill and a placement in an organisation that is willing to accept them. They go hand in hand. This method once existed but was replaced with a �10 extra allowance on their benefit but was only short term.
To rise above this requires intense paid training for a new skill and a placement in an organisation that is willing to accept them. They go hand in hand. This method once existed but was replaced with a �10 extra allowance on their benefit but was only short term.
There is a welfare state in this country is here by consensus, (if we didn�t' agree we would all vote for a change of policy wouldn't we).
Undoubtedly there will be people who exploit the system. I wonder how the detractors of the system or those who are so angry with the fraudsters expect the system to be better policed. Should GP's when faced with people be given the time, training and the support for when they refuse to sign someone off with acne or malaise. Should the benefit system employ more staff to check on claimants to verify if they are truly incapacitated? Or perhaps we could copy China and the former USSR where people felt it was their civic duty to spy on others? I am sure some ABers would volunteer
Undoubtedly there will be people who exploit the system. I wonder how the detractors of the system or those who are so angry with the fraudsters expect the system to be better policed. Should GP's when faced with people be given the time, training and the support for when they refuse to sign someone off with acne or malaise. Should the benefit system employ more staff to check on claimants to verify if they are truly incapacitated? Or perhaps we could copy China and the former USSR where people felt it was their civic duty to spy on others? I am sure some ABers would volunteer
Personally, I know that staff in benefit offices are just as fed up as the rest of us. There have been cutbacks, and Job Centres and benefit offices are understaffed. They simply haven't the time to do anything except the routine signing in and accompanying clerical work. Years ago, staff had the time and were enourages to help find people jobs and actually contacted employers to recommend staff.
I can only assume that the criteria for claiming invalidity benefit has changed radically. It wasn't even an option when I had a serious ongoing illness years ago.
I agree with Ruby with her thoughts on spying on others. It shouldn't be up to the general public to do the work of the Benefits Sector.
I can only assume that the criteria for claiming invalidity benefit has changed radically. It wasn't even an option when I had a serious ongoing illness years ago.
I agree with Ruby with her thoughts on spying on others. It shouldn't be up to the general public to do the work of the Benefits Sector.
An interesting angle on this topic was made by Peter Hain this morning. He attributed the large numbers of people on sickness benefit to �a leftover� from the Tory years, where people were encouraged to transfer from unemployment to sickness benefits to disguise the unemployment figures.
He must have dozed off for the past ten years during which the present administration has presided over an increase of approximately 85% in the numbers of long-term sickness benefit claimants. During this period, of course, the government has claimed that unemployment has decreased markedly.
Fortunately some of us were wide awake during that period and are not so easily fooled.
He must have dozed off for the past ten years during which the present administration has presided over an increase of approximately 85% in the numbers of long-term sickness benefit claimants. During this period, of course, the government has claimed that unemployment has decreased markedly.
Fortunately some of us were wide awake during that period and are not so easily fooled.
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