Social Security looks to cut £14m. bill for long-term sick claims

Thursday 21st July 2011, 2:29PM BST.

At yesterday’s Chamber of Commerce breakfast seminar are, from the left, Social Security deputy chief officer Ed Ashton, chief officer Malcolm Nutley and minister Deputy Mark Dorey. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 1161782)

SOCIAL SECURITY is looking to reduce its long-term sickness bill.

It spent £14m. last year on the benefit that currently 900 people are claiming.

At a Chamber of Commerce breakfast seminar yesterday, Social Security’s deputy chief officer Ed Ashton said long-term sickness was an issue.

‘At times of economic difficulty the number on long-term sickness goes up,’ he said.

‘We spent £14m. in 2010 on [it] and that is a huge sum.’

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View more: Chamber Of Commerce news, Social Security news.

1
Ray

July 21, 2011 at 5:39 pm

Must be an election on the horizon

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2
Steven

July 21, 2011 at 5:45 pm

Those figures just don’t stack up!

Sickness benefit for a long term claimant with full insurance record is approximately £154. Multiply this figure by the nine hundred claimants for fifty two weeks and we get £7.2m.

The only way that sense can be made from what is reported is to assume that there were twice as many claimants last year than are currently claiming.

This makes a mockery of the seminar, suggesting it was a waste of effort as the bill must already be drastically falling.

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3
Dave

July 21, 2011 at 5:54 pm

A complete joke after reading about Miss watson claiming £2000 a month and then i believe Mr dorey also said after that the benefits was right and need no change.. States have no idea and no backbone to do the right things when needed !!!

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4
damo

July 22, 2011 at 11:40 am

Are they serious?

People with physical and mental illnesses should be helped.

People like the watsons are where the cuts are due. People forget that they just don’t receive hand outs. They cost the schooling and infrastructure a fortune !

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5
Ray

July 22, 2011 at 1:24 pm

damo

I suppose the real difficulty is getting the ‘pink slip’ signing doctors to sort out those who are genuinely in need from those who put on an act when being examined

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6
kat

July 22, 2011 at 2:03 pm

There are many that are milking the system this need to be sorted if they are well enough to walk to the pub of fill there shopping trolley with fags and booze to keep them amused in day time they need to get off their but and back to bloney work

I know many who have worked for nearly 50 years and they too could do with a rest .why should they fund those who milk the system
there are enough out there to see who these are
or ask neighbours to shop them give them the encouragement to do this by making sure their name will NEVER be mentioned

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7
L

July 22, 2011 at 8:33 pm

dAVE WELL SAID this island is a joke.

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