MORE than 800 people across South Yorkshire claim incapacity benefits because they are alcoholics, The Star can reveal.
Newly released figures show 350 claimants in Sheffield say their main reason for being on benefit is alcoholism.
Similarly, 190 people in Rotherham, 170 in Doncaster and 110 in Barnsley claim the benefit because they have a drink addiction.
The
rate of IB claimants in Sheffield with a serious drink abuse problem is 106 per 100,000 workers.
The highest rate in Yorkshire and the Humber is in Scarborough, where 196 people per 100,000 workers are off work and claiming benefits because of alcoholism.
Ministers unveiled a radical measure of welfare reforms designed to "transform lives" and help achieve the government's ambition of an 80 per cent employment rate.
Those addicted to heroin or crack cocaine will have to declare their problem and agree to treatment if they are to continue receiving benefits.The same will not apply to alcoholics or people addicted to cannabis or cocaine.
However, Whitehall sources believe the idea could be on the agenda in the future and is a logical next step.
Ministers have also told the drinks industry this week to act more responsibly or face new laws governing alcohol sales. Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern said: "The combination of a mandatory code of standards among the licensed trade and improved resources to support problem drinkers, will undoubtedly help to bring down the burden that alcohol misuse places on public services."
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