How can one in four men (in some areas) be unfit to work???

They are milingerers pure and simple! I once saw a man ranting about the fact that he was going to assessed again, to be frank, he looked as fit as a fiddle!

Then there was the guy on wife swap with his seven kids who was unfit to work because his mother had died seven years ago and he was depressed. All the time he was swigging away on his lager, his right arm was still perfectly functional.

The Economist compared drivers in Sweden and the UK that had been injured in serious road crashes, in Sweden 90% went back to work. In the UK it was only 50%, guess were the other 50% are? If someone so much as nudges your car don't forget whiplash, worth a couple of grand, isn't it?

The tory government created this mess by allowing people to be easily transferred on to incapacity benefit so they wouldn't show as unemployed, these scheming politicians are our leaders! What a mess we're in.

Graham, St. Albans, uk

Most of the people on Incapacity benefit are those over fifty who cannot get work and the bone idle who have no intention of working, the 'mentally ill' for example. It will be very interesting to see how any government will force people to take jobs paying less than half the amount that they get on benefits. These categories of people will not be entitled to tax credits either. I see that they all have 'til 2010 to get used to the idea of working for a pittance. As I said, it should be interesting.

judy, Liverpool, England

I am on Incapacity benefit, I am 52 years old and have heart disease and diabetes, my own GP says I cannot work because I will die. I have worked all my life to the age of 50 (34 yrs) when I became ill with gangrenous appendicitis and had a major laparotomy.y taxes and NI throughout those years

I expect that the government will get me back to work soon - perhaps in a work camp with "Arbeit Macht Frei" (work brings freedom) Wouldn't surprise me !

Kev Somers, Hertford, Herts

Ther are a lot of people out there who work very hard and long hours who cant even afford a computer, I notice two of the above letters are from people on benefit, where exactly did their money come from to be ble to buy these expensive pieces of equipment, also the telephone line to beable to comment on line. As you will gather I am in favour of these new measures, I believe most people can do some kind of work.

J.A.M., Rye, East Sussex

Common sense has taken a back seat in this issue. Genuine and substantial disability cannot be "faked". The real problem is that too many people who are in plain language "sick" - and also perfectly fit people - try to label themselves as disabled to claim benefits intended for people with substantial problems. The way to tackle this is by tightening up the eligibility rules and backing up claims with independant medical advice.Then,only genuine cases would be able to claim, and there would be no need for repeated testing and expensive, over-complicated systems.More funds would then be available to support disabled people willing and able to work. We should all realise that disabled facilities - everything from welfare benefits to parking spaces and adapted public toilets - are meant for those with disabilities, and no-one else. Until this changes, the disabled will continue to pay the price for the scroungers hell bent on getting something for nothing.

Pam Stock, wirral, merseyside, UK

I don't think anyone will object to the targetting of those who draw incapacity benefit improperly - indeed those who would back this most fervently are probably the genuinely disabled who are unfortunately tarred with the same brush.
What I find objectionable as the husband of a severely disabled wife is this 'shotgun' approach which makes the assumption that all claimants are skivers unless they can prove otherwise. Why should my wife be forced to feel guilty or ashamed to be receiving the benefits tto which she is entitled and which have been paid for in part by her income tax and national insurance while she was able to work and mine since.
After more than ten major operations resulting in four major joint replacements, two of which were unsuccessful knee replacements which have left her unable to either walk more than a few yards or even to sit comfortably for more than a few minutes I don't see that my wife has anything to prove - certainly not in terms of her bravery anyway

Ron, Cumbria,

@ Lynda. Excatly the point I made last time the Government decided to target the disabled. Although it's clear to see that they are about to move the posts yet again.

I have no doubt that there are many people that are on incapacity benefit that shouldn't be. However, the Governement can only blame itself, they after all introduced very stringent testing and already have an independent review body.

I for one am looking forward to the new tests, I would be more than happy to return to sustainable employment, and when I fall ill because of my disabilities/illnesses , I would expect my job to be held open for me HOWEVER long it took me to recover, otherwise we will fall into the same old routine, loss of job and claim incapacity.
I have been awarded incapacity for the last 12 years and DLA for the past 2. Each and every claim is throughly checked and my medical records have always been open to scrutiny by the Government. Are they now telling me they are unable to read!

Bill, UK,

My street is full of these spongers all doing very well thank you on the easily availible free council rent,
They want for nothing; fags, booze sky t.v.( a must have ) cars,etc, etc
I go to work and i am no better off than these skivers.
Everyone who i work with is of the same opinion the system is geared up to help these people.
What about the workers on a low wage?
Just tell me where is the incentive to go to work when all you need is a tale to tell your G.P. and away you go on one big holiday,with pay.
And no i don't accept they can't do their old jobs any more so they can't work,neither could i after breaking my back! So do what i did, do something different and stop making excuses!!

The worker, Doncaster,

i fear that this sort of pressure on the sick will result in some of them harming themseleves. I have been a long term claiment due to mental health issue I have had sincie I was four years old. I dont drink, I dont smoke,I dont go out, I dont go on hoilday. i exsist, just. But i can mange in my small world. If that world is rocked, by taking away my benfits, I will take my own life.

dave, london,

I agree with Alistair Darling about Incapacity Benefits and proving that people are unfit for work. Many people who are on Incapacity Benefits dont want to be, but if they cannot go back and do the job that they were doing before they became ill, they need retraining. I am on Incapacity Benefit because I have Vascular Decease and only 40% use of my left leg, which makes that job I used to do impossible (Machine Operator) get Concessions at the Local Learning Centre but because I am not on Income Support I would have to pay the full price. This to me is rather stupid as I would have thought it better to retrain to do something else than expect people to go back and do their normal jobs. As in my case I cannot stand or walk very well. Something needs to be done then there wont be that many people on Incapacity Benefit.

Marion Dobbyn, Chard, Somerset

We who are on Incapacity Benefit are already rigorously tested to see if we are fit for work, not by our GPs but by independent doctors. What is going to be different in 2010 (by which time I will have reached retirement age, thank God)?

Lynda, london, uk