DWP research report: No 469 Routes onto Incapacity Benefit: findings from a survey of recent claimants
This research focuses on the situations of people newly claiming incapacity benefit (IB), including their health, employment and benefit histories, and their expectations and attitudes towards leaving benefit and returning to work.
The main findings are:
Over half of recent claimants had been in work or off sick from work immediately before their claim.
The most common health issues were depression, stress and anxiety, and musculo-skeletal conditions.
IB claimants were twice as likely as the general population to have no academic or vocational qualifications.
Just over two thirds of claimants who had been in work or on sick leave had discussed their condition with their employer, with two thirds of these finding their employer helpful.
The report highlighted the lack of employer led occupational health service provision and the need for workplace modifications.
The most common reason for the last job coming to an end among claimants who were not in work or off sick in the week prior to interview was giving up work because of their ill-health or disability.
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DWP research report: No 469 Routes onto Incapacity Benefit: findings from a survey of recent claimants 
