Data shows rise in incapacity benefit claimants

Claims for incapacity benefit are up by 20 per cent in a year and taxpayers are now shelling out £16 billion a year for people who are claiming sickness benefits.

According to figures given to the BBC's Panorama programme by the Department for Work and Pensions, around two thirds of the 2.64 million people on incapacity benefit are able to work.

The figures also showed that many claimants say they have bad backs, which are difficult for doctors to disprove, while many claim to suffer from mental or behavioural disorders such as stress.

However, a shake-up of the benefits system is due to take place in October and will mean that claimants will face more stringent medical tests that will determine what work they can do rather than what they cannot do in order to get them interim jobs.

Incapacity benefit is available to those people over the age of 16 who are not able to work.

If a claimant has been out of work for less than 52 weeks then they receive £63.75 per week while those who have been claiming for longer receive £84.50.