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| Some on benefits are 'taking the mickey', says minister | Some on benefits are 'taking the mickey', says minister |
| (3 days later) | |
| Some people on benefits are "taking the mickey", Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has said, as the government seeks ways to curb welfare spending. | Some people on benefits are "taking the mickey", Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has said, as the government seeks ways to curb welfare spending. |
| Kendall was speaking to ITV about a Department of Work and Pensions survey that suggested 200,000 people on benefits were ready to work if they had support. | Kendall was speaking to ITV about a Department of Work and Pensions survey that suggested 200,000 people on benefits were ready to work if they had support. |
| The DWP report found 49% of health and disability benefits claimants felt they would never be able to work again. | |
| But it also showed nearly half (44%) of people with a mental health condition expected to be able to work in future if their health improved. | But it also showed nearly half (44%) of people with a mental health condition expected to be able to work in future if their health improved. |
| Kendall told ITV: "I think what the survey shows today is that despite all the myths, a lot of people who are currently on sickness or disability benefits want to work." | |
| When asked if people on benefits were "pretending they can't work", she added: "Many of them have either just lost jobs that they desperately miss, or really want to get back into to work once they've got their health condition under control. | When asked if people on benefits were "pretending they can't work", she added: "Many of them have either just lost jobs that they desperately miss, or really want to get back into to work once they've got their health condition under control. |
| "So I think that there are many more people who want to work. I have no doubt, as there always have been, there are people who shouldn't be on those benefits who are taking the mickey and that is not good enough - we have to end that." | "So I think that there are many more people who want to work. I have no doubt, as there always have been, there are people who shouldn't be on those benefits who are taking the mickey and that is not good enough - we have to end that." |
| The government says the number of young people aged 16 to 34 who do not work because of long-term sickness and have a mental health condition has reached 270,000. | The government says the number of young people aged 16 to 34 who do not work because of long-term sickness and have a mental health condition has reached 270,000. |
| This number increased by 60,000 (26%) in the last year, according to the DWP. | This number increased by 60,000 (26%) in the last year, according to the DWP. |
| As of January, 9.3 million people aged 16 to 64 in the UK were economically inactive - a rise of 713,000 since the Covid pandemic. | As of January, 9.3 million people aged 16 to 64 in the UK were economically inactive - a rise of 713,000 since the Covid pandemic. |
| Last year, the government spent £65bn on sickness benefits - a 25% increase from the year before the pandemic. That figure is forecast to increase to around £100bn before the next general election. | |
| Kendall said the DWP survey, which spoke to 3,401 benefit recipients, showed the need to reform the current welfare system and encourage young people to work if they can. | Kendall said the DWP survey, which spoke to 3,401 benefit recipients, showed the need to reform the current welfare system and encourage young people to work if they can. |
| The DWP secretary said: "There is genuinely a problem with many young people, particularly the Covid generation, but we can't have a situation where doing a day's work is in itself seen as stressful." | The DWP secretary said: "There is genuinely a problem with many young people, particularly the Covid generation, but we can't have a situation where doing a day's work is in itself seen as stressful." |
| Kendall said supermarket managers had told her some young people did not understand work was "just the nature of life and that isn't stress or pressure". | Kendall said supermarket managers had told her some young people did not understand work was "just the nature of life and that isn't stress or pressure". |
| The DWP secretary is expected to present a policy paper on welfare reform next month. | The DWP secretary is expected to present a policy paper on welfare reform next month. |
| Ministers are worried about the surge in the number of people claiming benefits since the pandemic and the cost to the taxpayer, as the country faces challenging economic headwinds. | Ministers are worried about the surge in the number of people claiming benefits since the pandemic and the cost to the taxpayer, as the country faces challenging economic headwinds. |
| Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said people who claim long-term sickness benefits should be made to return to work "where they can". | Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said people who claim long-term sickness benefits should be made to return to work "where they can". |
| "The basic proposition that you should look for work is right," he told the BBC last year. | "The basic proposition that you should look for work is right," he told the BBC last year. |
| "People need to look for work, but they also need support. | "People need to look for work, but they also need support. |
| "That's why I've gone out to look at schemes where businesses are supporting people back into work from long-term sickness." | "That's why I've gone out to look at schemes where businesses are supporting people back into work from long-term sickness." |