Drink and drug addicts on disability benefits soars by 250% in a decade to almost 23,000
Last updated at 10:20 PM on 3rd June 2011
- Total number of claimants rises 50 per cent in just a decade, from 2.2million to 3.2million
- Annual disability benefit spend is now £12billion - the same as the entire Department of Transport budget
Expensive habits: The number of addicts on disability benefits has risen 250 per cent. (Posed by model)
The number of people receiving disability benefits because of their drink and drug problems has risen by 250 per cent in the past decade, new figures reveal.
There are now 22,800 people getting the handouts – not for any disability, but because they are addicts.
Figures also revealed that in the past year, almost 150,000 people received handouts of up to £125 a week because they have back pain – 80 per cent higher than the number of claimants in 2000.
The number of people getting sickness benefit because they have an allergy tripled to 1,300 in 2010.
The figures relate to the disability living allowance (DLA), which is paid to people who need help to move about, or need help caring for themselves.
Overall, the number of claimants soared from 2.2million to 3.2million – a rise of almost 50 per cent.
Last night Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith pledged to reform the payment so that only those who really needed it received it.
Awards will be regularly reviewed, to ensure that no one is getting it who does not deserve it.
‘These figures show that the number of people claiming DLA soared under the last Labour government,’ he said.
‘In the past, thousands of people on DLA have had no regular contact with the department so there is no way of knowing if their condition has improved or if it is worse and they actually need more support.
'That is why this government is reforming DLA to make sure that disabled people can rely on it for years to come.’
Figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions show that around 130,000 people on DLA have been on it since 1992 but have never had any contact with officials – meaning that they may have got better.
The benefit is paid to 3.2 million people at an annual cost of £12billion, the same as the Department of Transport’s entire budget for 2010/11.
One source close to the reforms said: ‘There’s been a huge increase in cash payouts for things like back pain over the past decade.
‘And too often, people are left on benefits without further contact with the department. We are going to bring a new assessment and regular checks to make sure support is getting to those who need it.’
Hardest hit: Sally Bercow, centre, and Jane Asher, fourth left, march with protesters demonstrating against changes to disability benefits
DLA is paid in two sections: a ‘care’ element and a ‘mobility’ element.
The care part is for those who need help looking after themselves or supervision to keep safe.
It is paid at rates of £73.60, £49.30 and £19.55 a week, according to need.
The mobility part, for those who cannot walk or need help walking around, is £51.40 or £19.55.
The tax-free benefit is paid to people whether or not they are in work. The money can be spent on whatever recipients want.
DLA is being replaced by the Personal Independence Payment.
Ministers say it will remain ‘a non-means-tested, non-taxable cash benefit claimed by disabled people whether they are in and out of work’.
(source:dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394061/)================================================
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