1600 Lothian alcoholics are claiming disability benefits

MORE than 1600 people across the Lothians are claiming disability benefits because they are alcoholics.

New figures released under freedom of information laws have revealed for the first time the extent to which those on incapacity benefits are battling with alcohol problems, with 1110 such claimants in Edinburgh last year alone.

Although alcoholism is cited as the main reason for claiming benefits, alcoholics getting disability benefits are also likely to have other health problems, such as mental health issues, which prevent them working.

Alcoholics account for around four per cent of the 39,250 people across the Lothians claiming incapacity benefit.

Health watchdogs today said alcoholics needed government benefits support while trying to battle their addictions.

Edinburgh Pentlands Tory MSP David McLetchie said: "People will be surprised that alcohol is specifically cited as the cause of a disability and is a factor in so many benefit claims. Obviously we would need to see Scotland-wide figures to gauge the significance of the Edinburgh statistics but it does demonstrate that alcohol is a serious problem for so many.

"The key thing is to encourage responsible drinking by responsible people but also provide the support services for those who do have a recognised problem with alcohol."

There were 587 deaths from alcohol across Edinburgh in the last five years, which is just below the overall Scottish average.

Alcohol Concern's chief executive Don Shenker said: "Recovery times for people with alcohol misuse problems understandably may be long, as dealing with such conditions is often both physically and mentally demanding.

"The Government has proposed substance-related assessment for drug and alcohol users as a condition of receiving benefit, but they need to combine this with ensuring the quantity and quality of treatment services is satisfactory across all parts of the country.

"Many people claiming disability benefits would prefer to be employed.

"However, with the access level for alcohol treatment at only one in 18, thousands of people are not receiving the support they need to help them get back to work."

A total of 62 people died from liver cancer last year, the highest number since records began in 1980.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "The medical condition recorded on the incapacity benefit claim form does not itself confer entitlement to incapacity benefits."

She added: "It is important to note that, where someone has more than one diagnosis or disabling condition, only the predominant one is currently recorded."