DLA claimants reach record high

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7060449.stm

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The number of people claiming disability living allowance (DLA) in Northern Ireland is increasing by 1,000 each month.

Currently, 174,343 people - more than 10% of the population - are receiving the benefit, the most ever recorded.

"There are roughly 2,000 fresh DLA claims per month and success rates are around 50%," said a DSD spokesman.

The most common reasons for claiming are arthritis (32,136), psycho neurosis (30,006) and heart disease (11,163).

Other include back pain (10,512) epilepsy (5,074), alcohol dependency (3,261), Aids (77) and being a double amputee (27).

"There are no initiatives ongoing at present to reduce the figures," continued the DSD spokesman.

"The Social Security Agency has a benefit uptake programme in place which targets those most vulnerable in society, which includes people with disabilities and carers, to ensure they are claiming all the benefits they may be entitled to."

The spokesman added that there are a number initiatives to ensure that those receiving DLA "continue to satisfy the entitlement criteria for their award of benefit".