In May 2004 official statistics showed that there were 2.7 million Incapacity Benefit claimants; of this group only 1.478 million actually receive payments a number which has fallen by nearly 400,000 since 1995.

There are three Incapacity Benefit rates paid to people unable to work due to illness or disability. The payments range from £55.90 and £74.15 per week with the average total payment coming in at £84.51 with the inclusion of additional allowances.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is supporting the government’s ‘carrot’ approach to getting the sick and disabled into work.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech on welfare and public services reform yesterday Frances O’Grady, TUC Deputy General Secretary said:

“The big problems that Incapacity Benefit claimants have finding and getting work need bold but fair solutions. The Prime Minister today backed successful pilot projects that are helping rather than forcing the sick and disabled back into work. Rolled out nationally this ‘carrot’ rather than a ‘stick’ approach could fill 110,000 jobs a year and save £110 million annually.”

Government schemes including the ‘Pathways to work’ pilots which combine mandatory work focused interviews with expert personal advisers with a £40 per week ‘return to work credit’ are showing success in getting twice as many Incapacity Benefit claimants back to work than in other areas.

Predictors suggest that if this trend continues and a nationwide programme is rolled-out the numbers claiming the benefit could be reduced by 110,000 a year, a saving of over £110 million a year.

Forty per cent of Incapacity Benefit claimants say they want a job but are prevented from working either by the practical requirements associated with their disability or employer discrimination.

In news that echoes these findings a recent report by the Royal National Institute for the Blind found that 92% of employers believe it would be ‘difficult or impossible’ to employ someone with a sight problem.

Official statistics show that this kind of discrimination prevents three-quarters of blind and partially-sighted people from gaining employment.