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First data on moving people off incapacity benefits published

11 February 2011

DWP has published statistics which reveal that, in the Burnley and Aberdeen pilots, where people are moved off incapacity benefits using the Work Capability Assessment:

• 30% of former IB claimants entered the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) benefit’s support component (i.e. not required to undertake any work);
• 40% were found partially fit for work (ie have some significant underlying health condition/impairment) and enter the ESA work-related activity group; and
• 30% were ‘fully fit for work’ and go on Jobseeker’s Allowance (higher than the previous Government’s 23% fully fit estimate).

 This means that (particularly for the 70% now required to undertake work or work related activity):

• more disabled people will be exposed to sanctions/penalties even if/when they can’t work;
• cuts to Pathways to Work and Access to Work and delays to the Government Work Programme launch means less support available to help disabled people get and keep jobs;
• cuts to tax credits and the axing of the previous Government’s £40 per week better off guarantee means work may not meet disabled people’s higher costs of living (eg accessible transport to get to and from work); and
• jobs are still not available, with the January 2011 evidence (published by the CESI) showing that for 5.5 million work-ready people there are 480,000 positions available.

DA believes that DWP – and broader Government – must focus on ensuring appropriate work is available before reducing payments to disabled people and their families. 

More information

• dwp press release

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