Updated figures for ESA tests

Only 7% of people claiming sickness benefits were unable to do any sort of work, new figures have shown.

New claimants for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) must undergo tests to see if they are capable of some sort of employment.

Of 1.3 million people tested between October 2008 and November 2010, some 88,700 were considered unfit for any work.

The DWP has released the results from 1.3 million tests over a period of more than two years which showed:

• 7% were incapable of any work
• 17% were able to do some sort of work given the correct support
• 39% were deemed to be fit for work and were moved onto jobseeker's allowance (JSA)
• 36% dropped out of the application process
• 1% of applications were still in progress

The chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee says people are suspicious that the government's only objective is to save money. Well, it should certainly be one of the government's objectives. The tests may not always be administered perfectly - with 1.3 million conducted, some problems are inevitable - but it is a task that has to be done. The government say

We are continuously improving the medical test to ensure that it is as fair and effective as possible.

The select committee was critical of the "irresponsible and inaccurate" media coverage of the issue which labelled some benefit claimants as "workshy".

Eh? Among 1.3 million, some will be workshy. But the select committee seems to think it's not nice to speak this truth.

Come out of your cocoon. Remember, 36% dropped out of the application process and a further 39% were moved onto JSA.