Radio4 doing long convos on how to move people off sickness benefits. But no mention of no1 fact:- UK system heavily incentivises people to be categorised as long-term sick. Claim PIP too (as most sickness benefit do) and it pays more than minimum wage. With kids: far more.
NB the 'work' here is tough, repetitive, low-paid, insecure. Sickness benefit is so secure that ~90% of claimants will never come off it. And it pays more. Sickness benefit surge is a rational response to the system that UK has unwittingly introduced. Latest trajectory below:-
As HMG flails around trying to find causes for this screamingly-obvious, we are signing off 2,000 people every day. Statistically, most will never work again: shovelled off to edge of society and forgotten. Social vandalism on an epic scale.
No massive 'consultation' is needed: all relevant data is published already. The dots are there: what's missing is the willingness to join them. After my Ch4 film, I made a website to publish relevant stats, methodology, how to replicate etc. All here: https://www.benefitstrap.com/
Sickness benefits cost estimates were updated last month after the budget. Before: a calamity. After: a calamity.
