Almost Five Million People on Out of Work Benefits
Almost five million people remain on the three main ‘out of work’ benefits, according to the Office of National Statistics.
The unemployment rate for the three months to June 2010 was 7.8%, down 0.2% on the quarter, although the number of people unemployed for more than 12 months increased by 33,000 to reach 796,000, the highest figure since the three months to March 1997.
The chief executive of disability charity Scope, Richard Hawkes, said: “If the Government is serious about reducing the number of people claiming benefits they need to invest in developing a welfare system that provides the tailored support that disabled people need to find a job.
“In the current economic climate, with high unemployment and fierce competition for jobs, disabled people won’t find work by simply being forced off benefits or shunted from one type of benefit to another via arduous assessment regimes.
“We also need to ensure that any plans for welfare reform allow legitimate claims to continue to be made, ensuring those who do need additional support continue to receive the right support at the right time.”
More: www.scope.org.uk
