Labour shortfall fears as 8.7m adults now off work on benefits

BRITAIN’S welfare bill has soared by £13billion since the pandemic, with 1.6 million more people of working age now claiming benefits, writes David Williamson.

- David Williamson

Analysis by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found there are now 8.7 million working age adults receiving welfare benefits. The increase comes as concern mounts over labour shortages.

The CSJ estimates there are nearly 3.5 million claimants “under no obligation to seek a job” – an increase of 570,000 since 2019. The think-tank warns it is “a profound social injustice to effectively write off the many thousands who are on sickness benefits but want to participate in employment”.