Incapacity benefit claimants abroad cost UK taxpayers £1m a week - Alexander

Since 1998 over 109,000 people have claimed incapacity benefit while living abroad, at a cost of £1m a week to UK taxpayers, according to new research revealed by the Liberal Democrats. The cost to the taxpayer in the past ten years has been almost half a billion pounds.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Danny Alexander said:

"It is issues such as this that leave hard-working people feeling the whole benefits system is unjust. It completely goes against people's sense of fairness that UK benefits are paid to those who move abroad and benefit from lower living costs at the expense of taxpayers. If we ever want to have a rational debate about the welfare state in this country we must address the irrationalities and unfairness that clearly exists in the system."

Comment on this news story from Mrs H Edwards, Charnwood Leicestershire.

" I am deeply unimpressed by Danny Alexanders outburst on Incapacity Benefits paid " abroad" - presumably in the EU as I know state benefits are not payable in many parts of the world. I think he has succumbed to the "all scroungers" mindset orchestrated by the right. If UK citizens living and working "abroad" become or are

already unable to work, why should they not be entitled to claim the appropriate benefit? Polish plumbers' children get state education, family allowance and the NHS when resident in the UK, whats the problem?

Now that the government has reneged on its "new claimants only" decision re the compulsory Work Capacity Assessment changes to Incapacity Benefit, and is hiding loss of entitlement to DLA mobility component and Attendance Allowance as part of Independent Care funding packages, it is a shame our own party are not

highlighting those undoubtedly unpopular and little known proposals instead of jumping on the Frauds and Scroungers bandwagon, which is very hurtful to many vulnerable recipients."