1 in 5 in people in Blackburn with Darwen on benefits for at least 13 years (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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1 in 5 in people in Blackburn with Darwen on benefits for at least 13 years
9:10am Thursday 27th August 2009 in News
CLAIMS: Around 20,000 people are claiming jobless or invalidity benefits
ONE in five people in Blackburn with Darwen have been living off benefits for at least 13 years, new figures have revealed.
Some 17,986 of the 94,322 people of working age in the borough have survived on either jobseeker’s allowance or disability benefits for more than a decade.
The 19 per cent rate is the 13th highest in the country, only coming behind inner city areas areas such as Tower Hamlets, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool.
Council leader Mike Lee described the situation as a ‘tremendous concern’ while Blackburn MP Jack Straw said ‘there is no doubt there is a problem here’.
The figures, uncovered by the Conservative Party, show that in Blackburn with Darwen: * 479 people aged over 16 in the borough have never worked and live on benefits.
* 363 people have lived on jobseekers allowance since 1996.
* 8,841 people have never worked due to health problems * 8,303 people have not worked due to health issues since 1996 at the latest.
Currently there are 4,232 people out of work in Blackburn with Darwen, meaning the very long-term jobless total makes up around 20 per cent of the total.
Leaders fear that while there are many genuine claimants, a lot of people are increasingly ‘playing the system’.
Mike Damms, the chief executive of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said the figures showed that the benefits system needed to be looked at.
He said: “We look at levels of jobs and employment which have compared well with other parts of the country.
“I was not aware of such high levels of long term worklessness, although we have been conscious of a large proportion of people out of work and on incapacity benefit.
“East Lancashire has many problems with healthy living and that must impact on the number of people not in work.”
Coun Lee, the Conservative leader of Blackburn with Darwen, said a situation where so many people were out of work for the long term ‘could not be allowed to continue’.
He said: “The figures are a tremendous concern. The economic benefit to the area if even a small proportion of these people were back in work would be huge.
“There have been many problems with the loss of manufacturing jobs in the area and being out of work can be difficult for people to break out of.
“A major frustration for us is the lack of commitment from central government to sort out the benefits system.”
Coun Lee pointed to the £4.5million funding recently secured by East Lancashire councils to create 700 public sector jobs as proof that work was being done locally to improve the situation.
The Conservative figures have prompted a row between Tory and Labour ministers.
While the stats show the numbers who have not worked since 1996, the individuals concerned could have last held down a job at any time before this.
Jack Straw, MP for Blackburn, said the town did have a problem but that it had been mostly caused by the Conservatives.
He said: “There is no doubt there is a problem here, but the Conservatives are responsible for a large part of the problem.
“The Government are in the process of tightening up rules of invalidity claimants, when the previous Conservative Government put many people into this category when they shouldn’t have been there.
“I have visited the Job Centre Plus in Blackburn twice recently and the work they do to encourage people back into work is fantastic, they are transforming the area.”
Theresa May, the Tory shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “The reality is that under Labour there has been a steady growth in welfare ghettos - unemployment did not disappear during the ‘boom years’.
“It is important to remember that not everyone can work, those with severe disabilities or those who do an invaluable job as full time carers or parents of young children.
"But at the same time we should not shy away from demanding more of those who can work, and often desperately want to.”
The stats were not revealed for other East Lancashire boroughs.
Instead a ‘Lancashire’ figure was given for the county council area showing 105,000 had been out of work since at least 1996.
Comments(24)
Jimmy Paterson
says...
10:01am Thu 27 Aug 09
I am sick of paying for these people to sit at home, eating takeaways watching Jeremy Kyle before jumping into the taxi to the boozer...
madari
says...
10:14am Thu 27 Aug 09
Jimmy Paterson wrote:Madari the snake charmer says:
Never been out of work in my life -- theres always something out there - get off your arses and go look. I am sick of paying for these people to sit at home, eating takeaways watching Jeremy Kyle before jumping into the taxi to the boozer...
Count your blessings that you have never been out of work, let me assure you if you were to lose your job now you wouldnt be coming on here mouthing off.
It is a job to get a job these days , especially if you are over 40yrs of age.
I just hope i dont lose my job.
justicejoan
says...
11:49am Thu 27 Aug 09
The huge council estates have generation after generation who are reliant on the benefits system and have never worked in their lives.
The research has to be done to gain these facts which i am sure Andy H and others are capable of.
Poverty is directly linked to unemployment and hence areas where it is concentrated become places where the good people of the middle classes do no not wish to be associated with and to frequent.
We should all refrain from the racist agenda that some contributors on this forum regularly display in their postings.
They should be made aware of the 2007 Racial hatred and discrimination act and the cosequences of their behaviour.
Mike Costa
says...
12:13pm Thu 27 Aug 09
madari wrote:Mike Costa says:
Jimmy Paterson wrote: Never been out of work in my life -- theres always something out there - get off your arses and go look. I am sick of paying for these people to sit at home, eating takeaways watching Jeremy Kyle before jumping into the taxi to the boozer...Madari the snake charmer says: Count your blessings that you have never been out of work, let me assure you if you were to lose your job now you wouldnt be coming on here mouthing off. It is a job to get a job these days , especially if you are over 40yrs of age. I just hope i dont lose my job.
Shouldnt have to worry about losing your job madari.
There'll always be a need for snake charmers
midas
says...
12:45pm Thu 27 Aug 09
Mike
says...
1:08pm Thu 27 Aug 09
justicejoan
says...
1:39pm Thu 27 Aug 09
The vast majority( over 75%) of claimants ARE from the indigenous community, now that you have made this a race issue in this debate.
Generation after generation of
-single mothers
-teenage mothers
-alcohol addiction
-drug addiction
-anti social behaviour
-petty criminals
-benefits culture
-unemployment
-feral children
the list goes on and on, with the vast majority being people born in this country and of the indigenous community.
this unfortunately is the preserve of the great council estates dotted around the big cities and towns up and down the country.
The people with their hidden agendas to stir racial hatred need to check up the facts with members of the learned professions before making comments out of step with their presumed knowledge.
maj3091
says...
2:10pm Thu 27 Aug 09
Do you blame the lazy baskets for sitting at home all day and claiming the benefits, or do you blame the system for allowing them to do it?
What ever happened to the article I read on here a few months ago about how benefits would be stopped if people weren't actively seeking work and taking opportunities....sho
uldn't it be the case that if a person is out of a job, then they shouldn't have the right to turn-down a job offer if one comes up?
Exactly what "incentive" is there for these people to get off their backsides and get a job?
akon
says...
4:28pm Thu 27 Aug 09
Are you married to Trevor Philips or George Galloway ?
Your anti-indigenous lunatic rantings make YOU look like YOU have a hidden agenda !
Every time anyone mention's asians/muslims etc why do they have to have a hidden agenda you stupid woman.
Ref the RACE act ,can i inform you that it works BOTH WAYS you patronising sloth.
Darwenbert
says...
6:04pm Thu 27 Aug 09
Darwenbert
says...
6:12pm Thu 27 Aug 09
TONY WALES
says...
7:05pm Thu 27 Aug 09
These unemployments stats come out every so many months.
Everybody starts shouting abuse at other people saying they are lazy etc.
In the end the government does absolutely nothing. Nobody gets their benefits stopped, because if you dont want a job, you dont impress at the interview.
Can anybody tell me if the government have ever stopped their benefits, and left them with nothing to live on?
MP's are always promising to reform the benefit system, but don't wish to become unpopular, and risk losing votes.
Why should they upset anybody, they have a very good salary and of course very good perks (e.g. long holidays and expenses)
So all that will happen is that taxes, direct and indirect, will rise every year to pay the bill for an ever increasing social benefit bill. The workers will have to pay imore income tax, and the unemployed will collect the money.
Your only answer is go go and live in the USA, or Canada or Australia, where social benefits are not so freely handed out.
But if you dont have good qualifications, forget it.
In the next 50 years with the increase in popualation the social benefits will run out of money, and the working popualation will have to work to 75 or 80 to collect their pension.
I will not be alive in 50 years so why should I worry.
TONY WALES
says...
7:05pm Thu 27 Aug 09
These unemployments stats come out every so many months.
Everybody starts shouting abuse at other people saying they are lazy etc.
In the end the government does absolutely nothing. Nobody gets their benefits stopped, because if you dont want a job, you dont impress at the interview.
Can anybody tell me if the government have ever stopped their benefits, and left them with nothing to live on?
MP's are always promising to reform the benefit system, but don't wish to become unpopular, and risk losing votes.
Why should they upset anybody, they have a very good salary and of course very good perks (e.g. long holidays and expenses)
So all that will happen is that taxes, direct and indirect, will rise every year to pay the bill for an ever increasing social benefit bill. The workers will have to pay imore income tax, and the unemployed will collect the money.
Your only answer is go go and live in the USA, or Canada or Australia, where social benefits are not so freely handed out.
But if you dont have good qualifications, forget it.
In the next 50 years with the increase in popualation the social benefits will run out of money, and the working popualation will have to work to 75 or 80 to collect their pension.
I will not be alive in 50 years so why should I worry.
andy1
says...
7:44pm Thu 27 Aug 09
akon wrote:A bit rich coming from one of old Micks 3rd Reich isnt it? FACISTS are FACISTS Like akon know all but in reality Know nothing. I cant be bothered tonight akon to let you have some information on your useless Councillors etc in the British Nazi Party.
justicejoan
Are you married to Trevor Philips or George Galloway ?
Your anti-indigenous lunatic rantings make YOU look like YOU have a hidden agenda !
Every time anyone mention's asians/muslims etc why do they have to have a hidden agenda you stupid woman.
Ref the RACE act ,can i inform you that it works BOTH WAYS you patronising sloth.
NICEONESUNSHINE
says...
8:17pm Thu 27 Aug 09
andy1 wrote:You took the words right out of my post!
akon wrote: justicejoan Are you married to Trevor Philips or George Galloway ? Your anti-indigenous lunatic rantings make YOU look like YOU have a hidden agenda ! Every time anyone mention's asians/muslims etc why do they have to have a hidden agenda you stupid woman. Ref the RACE act ,can i inform you that it works BOTH WAYS you patronising sloth.A bit rich coming from one of old Micks 3rd Reich isnt it? FACISTS are FACISTS Like akon know all but in reality Know nothing. I cant be bothered tonight akon to let you have some information on your useless Councillors etc in the British Nazi Party.
Hammurabi
says...
8:48pm Thu 27 Aug 09
Major Tom
says...
1:25am Fri 28 Aug 09
akon
says...
7:43am Fri 28 Aug 09
The devil worshipper re-appears.
Useless councillor's ?
What about this USELESS government ,remember the one ,LABOUR !!
The one you served poorly as a councillor !
Then you spat your dummy out .....
Harleygirl
says...
9:24am Fri 28 Aug 09
The Benefits System would work much better by only providing financial assistance for a minimum period.
If you are still unemployed after the assistance period, people should be forced to do voluntary work in the communities that support them.
Nad
says...
9:43am Fri 28 Aug 09
ExForces
says...
1:57pm Fri 28 Aug 09
NoPolitics
says...
2:48pm Sat 29 Aug 09
amazed
says...
9:10pm Sat 29 Aug 09
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happycyclist says...
9:18am Thu 27 Aug 09
Unbelievable. What planet is Straw on? Jobcentres are USELESS.