Welfare benefit problems surge - Citizens Advice

clock • 1 min read

Sickness and disability benefit claims problems are seeing a huge surge in volumes, according to the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

And the consumer support group believes the trend is only set to grow thanks to a "flawed" and "crude" system.

New figures released by the CAB show that during the three months of April to June, its offices across England and Wales dealt with a 77% increase in problems relating to the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Enquiries about the state benefit rose to 45,257 (from 25,528 during the same period last year), but it was not the only one to increase public concerns.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Carers Allowance enquires also grew by 11% to 108,742 (from 98,380), and 17% to 13,488 (from 11,558) respectively.

It appears likely DLA enquiries will continue to rise in the coming years after plans to medically assess all claimants from 2013 were announced by Chancellor George Osborne in the June budget.

Gillian Guy, chief executive at Citizens Advice, has been concerned about the new ESA benefit since its introduction.

"Since ESA was introduced in October 2008, we have been monitoring its impact," she says.

"We have previously published reports expressing our concern about poor knowledge of ESA rules among Jobcentre Plus and Department of Work and Pensions medical staff, inadequate administration systems and the crude nature of the work capability assessment. This autumn, claimants on the old Incapacity Benefit will switch to ESA.

"With so many flaws in the current system we predict the number of people who come to us for advice on this benefit will only continue to increase," she adds.

Overall, enquires to CAB about benefits and tax credits rose 6% to more than half a million (517,956), second only to debt problems.

 

More on Individual Protection

Children's mental health referrals rise 42% in 2023

Children's mental health referrals rise 42% in 2023

RedArc data shows

Jaskeet Briah
clock 08 May 2024 • 2 min read
The long road ahead

The long road ahead

Is protection support for long-term care fragmented?

Jaskeet Briah
clock 07 May 2024 • 6 min read
Providers 'can do much more' for later life care: Vitality

Providers 'can do much more' for later life care: Vitality

41% of adults worried about affording care costs

Jaskeet Briah
clock 03 May 2024 • 1 min read

Highlights

COVER Survey: Advisers damning of protection insurer service levels

COVER Survey: Advisers damning of protection insurer service levels

"It takes longer than ever to get underwriting terms"

John Brazier
clock 12 October 2023 • 5 min read
Online reviews trump price for young people selecting life and health cover

Online reviews trump price for young people selecting life and health cover

According to latest ReMark report

John Brazier
clock 11 October 2023 • 2 min read
ABI members with staff neurodiversity policy nearly doubles

ABI members with staff neurodiversity policy nearly doubles

Women within executive teams have grown to 32%

Jaskeet Briah
clock 10 October 2023 • 3 min read