Controversy over welfare benefits for problem drinkers and drug addicts

Welfare benefits for people with alcohol or drug problems hit the headlines again when the Department of Work and Pensions released figures showing that, in 2010, 80,000 people dependent on either alcohol or other drugs were receiving incapacity benefit or what, since October 2008, has been known as Employment Support Allowance.

The figures showed that over 48,000 of the total had been in receipt of benefits in excess of 5 years, over 22,000 for ten years or more. Further doubt on the effectiveness and fairness of the present arrangements for paying welfare benefits was prompted by separate figures showing that threequarters of people who apply for sickness benefit are found fit to work or drop their claims before they are completed. The figures show 887,300 of 1,175,700 people applying for employment and support allowance (ESA) between October 2008 and August 2010 failed to qualify. Only 6% of claims - 73,500 people - were considered to be entitled to full ESA support.

Employment Minister, Chris Grayling, said the figures showed how important it was to reassess people who were still on the old incapacity benefit.

“We now know very clearly that the vast majority of new claimants for sickness benefits are in fact able to return to work. That’s why we are turning our attention to existing claimants, who were simply abandoned on benefits. That’s why we are reassessing all of those claimants, and launching the work programme to provide specialist back to work support,” he said.

Alcohol and Drug Claimants

Prime Minister, David Cameron, promised tough action to reduce the numbers of people on ESA. Speaking to the BBC, he said that the public believed welfare recipients should be “people who are incapacitated through no fault of their own”. He continued: “Of course someone who has an alcohol or drug problem has a problem, but is it OK to leave these people on incapacity benefit, year after year, not examining their circumstances, not seeing if we can help them? It traps people in long-term poverty and it is not good enough.”

Mr Cameron said the government was showing courage to re-examine all existing incapacity benefit claims, suggesting recipients had been “left for dead” by the last government, and those not entitled to the payments would have them removed.

The Coalition Government is, in fact, continuing a process begun by the previous Labour Government of attempting to get people off incapacity benefit and back into work. Altogether, over 2 million people receive incapacity benefits, with over 900,000 being in receipt of benefits for 10 years or more. In relation to people with alcohol or drug problems, the position is the same as with other claimants in that their medical condition, in their case, dependence, does not, of itself, provide an entitlement to welfare benefits. Decisions on entitlement to benefits are based on claimants’ ability to carry out a range of tasks or on the effects of any associated mental health problems.

Alcohol awareness campaigners welcomed the aim of helping people to give up drink and get back to work but warned removing benefits from vulnerable people risked making their situation worse.

Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, said he was concerned the government was not prepared to commit enough funds to tackle a shortage of treatment facilities for those with addictions. He told the BBC:

“I would imagine that the vast majority would find it quite difficult to go back into the workplace because, first of all, how many employers would take on someone who’s been out of work for two or three years because they’ve been drinking?

“Secondly, the very stressful nature of being in the workplace environment means that for people who are heavily dependent on alcohol it would be difficult for some people to hold down a job.”

Martin Barnes, Chief Executive of DrugScope, said:

“Most people with a drug or alcohol dependency also have physical or mental health problems which can affect their ability to work. While a drug or alcohol dependency can be extremely debilitating, it does not, of itself, give an entitlement or ‘passport’ to benefit, which may be suggested by the publication of today’s figures. People with drug or alcohol problems must satisfy all the conditions for benefit entitlement, including proof of incapacity, and may be required to undergo a medical examination to determine eligibility.

“For many people with drug problems, employment can help support and sustain recovery from dependency. DrugScope supports the government’s commitment to help drug users into employment, as part of a broader recovery agenda. However, while people in drug treatment and recovery want to access training and employment, they can face formidable barriers, not least the stigma associated with drug or alcohol dependency. Research and experience shows that a majority of employers will not knowingly take on someone with a history of drug problems even if they are otherwise able to do the job.

“Despite the clear challenges of supporting people who have had drug or alcohol problems off benefit and into employment, it is unclear what specific, tailored support the government is providing, despite the clear ambition and commitment set out in the drug strategy. It has recently been confirmed that two support programmes for people with drug and alcohol problems are being discontinued, with no new referrals to the Progress to Work scheme after 1 June 2011 and no further funding for dedicated Job Centre drug coordinators. Both initiatives provided welcome and necessary tailored support for people with often multiple and complex problems associated with drug dependency. It is still unclear what specific support for this client group will be provided by the new Work Programme.

Employment Minister, Chris Grayling, said private and voluntary organisations had agreed to invest £580m in treating addicts and preparing them for employment, adding that all of the conditions were treatable if people received the right support.