Recommendation 2

We agree that the incapacity benefit system is broken. It focuses too much on what people cannot do and on assessing claimants’ eligibility for benefits, rather than on supporting them into work. As concluded by many of the most reputable authorities in this area, the disparity in rates and conditionality rules has no doubt impacted on economic inactivity. Whether people are being parked on benefits depends largely, however, on the barriers to their engaging with the available employment support or attempting to move into work. The Government recognises this point in the Green Paper and has set out proposals to address the challenges. The success of its reforms, which we discuss later in our report, will depend on whether it really can improve levels of trust in the system. (Conclusion, Paragraph 36)