Sponging in Edinburgh

The Lib Dem MP for Edinburgh West writes -

Constituents at my surgeries are often angry that they are struggling to get the support they need, and are entitled to, to cope with a disability, while less deserving neighbours (who know how to play the system) are signed off on incapacity benefit.

The Government recently unveiled its plans to reform Welfare to Work, including proposals to radically toughen the assessments procedure, with every individual currently on incapacity benefit to be reassessed and undergo an all-new assessment process.

However, in the rush to appear tough, we need to make a distinction between those who would cheat the system and those who genuinely want to work but are unable to.

In Edinburgh, recent figures revealed that 47,700 people currently not in work have no interest in getting a job at all. In our rush to tighten up benefit rules we have to make sure that we do not push these people who want to work, but need a bit of support, away from jobs.

When we make generalisations, it is often the deserving minority who lose out. For every person undeservedly living off incapacity benefit there is a disabled person who would love to work, but who needs just a little extra help to get and sustain a job.

While we focus our attention on clamping down on those who abuse the rules we cannot forget those who are failed by the current system.

With half of all disabled people unemployed, part of our new approach must involve tapping into this huge potential that too often goes to waste.

Nice words. We must also not forget the very many people fraudulently sponging off the state. They probably cost us at least £2bn a year - money we will not be able to afford when we have to pay down the debts incurred by the present government.

htp Dave