Three in four applicants for sickness benefits are being turned away or have dropped their claims because of tough new checks, figures reveal.

A new "work capability assessment" was introduced along with the new employment and support allowance (ESA) to replace the old incapacity benefit two years ago.

Figures obtained by the Leicester Mercury show that in the first year of the new system, more than 6,000 of the 8,830 people in Leicestershire and Rutland who made claims were told they were fit for work or stopped claiming altogether.

Under the old incapacity benefit system, most of these people would have been able to start claiming the £89 incapacity benefit– which is £25 more than those on jobseekers' allowance receive. The ESA – which is worth between £91 and £97 a week – is given to new sickness benefit claimants. Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show of the 8,830 people who made claims for the ESA between October 2008 and November 2009, 3,220 – or 36 per cent – were told they were fit for work, while 3,270, or 37 per cent, dropped their claim before the assessment was complete. Another 1,820 – about one in five – were regarded as unfit to work and had to sign up to support groups which would help prepare them for work or take part in voluntary work.

The remaining 530 people were still being assessed when the figures were recorded. In the same time period nationally, about 76 per cent of people were judged fit to work or likely to be fit to work because they dropped their claims.

At the time the ESA was introduced in 2008, more than 30,000 people in Leicestershire and Rutland were on incapacity benefit. Now, any of those people who are still receiving incapacity benefit are to be reassessed under the new system from October. It is hoped the new test – which includes a 13-week assessment period involving doctors or medical professionals – will lead to a massive reduction in the national benefit bill.

Employment minister Chris Grayling said there was an urgent need for reform to avoid people being "abandoned" on incapacity benefits.

He said: "The vast majority of people who are applying for these benefits are being found fit to work or have stopped their claim. We are going to reassess everyone claiming incapacity benefits for their ability to work. They will now be given the support they need to get back to work and will be expected to look for work if they are able to do so."

The TaxPayers' Alliance said it was "high time" for reform of the benefits system so it was "less open to abuse".

A spokesman said: "Keeping people who can work on benefits costs taxpayers a fortune and does the claimants no favours as they are left dependant on handouts instead of being helped back into work."

http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/media/2010/08/this-is-leicestershire-mo...