In every part of Britain, there was an increase in claims for incapacity benefits last year. Some of the biggest rises were seen in wealthy areas, where mental health issues surged.
Data from the Department for Work and Pensions revealed that while urban and industrial regions had the highest number of claims in 2023, suburban towns near London and other major cities also saw significant increases, with some areas experiencing a more than 30% rise.
These areas include constituencies represented by Conservative Members of Parliament such as Tonbridge & Malling in Kent, Basingstoke in Hampshire, and Hexham in Northumberland.
According to analysis conducted by the Labour Party and reported by the Times, claims for incapacity benefits increased by at least 10% in all 650 parliamentary seats.
Last month, it was reported that 2.8 million individuals had exited the workforce due to long-term sickness, marking the highest number since the 1990s. Mental health issues are prevalent among young adults aged 16 to 34 who are out of work due to long-term illness, accounting for 69% of all medical claims.
This trend coincides with the government's efforts to reduce NHS waiting lists for treatment.
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17 май 2024
