UK's post-Covid sick note crisis is laid bare as think-tank warns 5.4MILLION ... trends now
The UK's post-Covid sick note crisis was laid bare today as a think-tank warned 5.4million Brits could be on health-related benefits by 2029.
As Rishi Sunak launched a 'moral mission' to help more people into work, the IFS released estimates underlining the mounting scale of the problem.
It warned that there is no sign the surge in illness seen since the pandemic struck is reversing, with an alarming rise in young people suffering from mental health issues.
Some 4.2million people are now claiming at least one incapacity or disability benefit, according to the IFS report.
It found that before the pandemic, there were 20,000 new claims of incapacity benefits per month and the same for disability benefits.
However, by November 2022, that had risen to 51,000 and 43,000 respectively.
The think-tank projected that even if the trend slows in the coming years, by 2028-29 there will be 5.4million people on health-related benefits.
If there is no slowdown then that figure could be as high as 5.8million. Even if it reverses entirely there will be 4.4million.
The UK's post-Covid sick note crisis was laid bare today as a think-tank warned 5.4million Brits could be on health-related benefits by 2029
The IFS found that before the pandemic, there were around 20,000 new claims of incapacity benefits per month and the same for disability benefits. However, by November 2022, that had risen to 51,000 and 43,000 respectively.
Mental health and behavioural disorders are the most common condition affecting benefit claimants, representing the primary condition for 41 per cent
The cost of the incapacity and disability benefits for working age people is projected to reach £63.7 billion by 2028-29, from around £48billion last year.
The think-tank said that one in six of those aged 60–64 are receiving a health-related benefit currently.
But it pointed out that proportionally the recent rise has been far sharper among younger people.
Since 2019, the share of 25-year-olds on health-related benefits has gone from 4.9 per cent to
