The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Alan Johnson, has recently announced that incapacity benefits are to be reformed.
Under the proposals, due to come into force in 2008, the benefit will be discontinued, with those who are seen to be more serious cases, receiving an increased disability and sickness allowance of £80 per week. Other claimants will receive benefit at the jobseekers allowance rate of £55 per week, until they undertake a medical assessment.
Our view
There are increasing numbers of people who are off work sick at present. We have seen figures estimated that in any year 6 million ..... yes we said 6 million people claim sickness benefits each year. The Government have had to do something to deal with this situation.