And I thought the welfare laws were bad in the States 
Acne? Obesity? Alcoholism? Nail disorder? WTF? lol
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20071119/tuk-2-000-people-too-fat-to-work-6323e80_1.html
Obese people are costing the taxpayer £4.4 million a year in incapacity benefits.
The payments are picked up by almost 2,000 people classed too fat to work, the Department of Work and Pensions has disclosed.
Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said it was "nonsense" to suggest that someone would be able to claim incapacity benefit simply because they were overweight.
The figures were released in response to a Freedom of Information request for a breakdown of the conditions cited by the 2.7 million people claiming £7.4 billion in incapacity benefits.
They also show that £2 billion was claimed for mental health complaints, including £518 million for people whose ailments are "unknown and unspecified", in 2006/7.
Some 250,000 people claim £600 million for stress-related illnesses and 50,000 alcoholics claim £85 million. It adds £100,000 went to those with acne and a similar amount to 60 people with a "nail disorder".
Former welfare reform minister Frank Field told The Times there had been a large increase in the number of people claiming benefit for conditions which were unspecific, claiming the system was a "racket".
He said: "The big change over the last decade has been into illnesses which largely defy a clear medical classification: depression, dizziness and such. It is a move from the tangible illness to the tangible."
It is reported that Mr Hain will announce new moves to get 20,000 people off incapacity benefit.
The Sun newspaper said that the Personal Capability Assessment is to be scrapped in favour of a new system which encourages people to show that they can work.
Acne? Obesity? Alcoholism? Nail disorder? WTF? lolhttp://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20071119/tuk-2-000-people-too-fat-to-work-6323e80_1.html
Obese people are costing the taxpayer £4.4 million a year in incapacity benefits.
The payments are picked up by almost 2,000 people classed too fat to work, the Department of Work and Pensions has disclosed.
Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said it was "nonsense" to suggest that someone would be able to claim incapacity benefit simply because they were overweight.
The figures were released in response to a Freedom of Information request for a breakdown of the conditions cited by the 2.7 million people claiming £7.4 billion in incapacity benefits.
They also show that £2 billion was claimed for mental health complaints, including £518 million for people whose ailments are "unknown and unspecified", in 2006/7.
Some 250,000 people claim £600 million for stress-related illnesses and 50,000 alcoholics claim £85 million. It adds £100,000 went to those with acne and a similar amount to 60 people with a "nail disorder".
Former welfare reform minister Frank Field told The Times there had been a large increase in the number of people claiming benefit for conditions which were unspecific, claiming the system was a "racket".
He said: "The big change over the last decade has been into illnesses which largely defy a clear medical classification: depression, dizziness and such. It is a move from the tangible illness to the tangible."
It is reported that Mr Hain will announce new moves to get 20,000 people off incapacity benefit.
The Sun newspaper said that the Personal Capability Assessment is to be scrapped in favour of a new system which encourages people to show that they can work.
