Obese people could have their benefits stripped if they refuse treatment in a bid to ensure they can lead a "fulfilling life", UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said. The Daily Telegraph quotes Cameron as saying that a Conservative government will attempt to ensure that tens of thousands of people who claim welfare on the grounds of obesity, drug or alcohol addiction are "incentivised" to go back to work. He said that taxpayers should no longer "fund the benefits" of people who refuse to accept the treatment that could help them get back into employment.
He has asked Professor Dame Carol Black, a senior government adviser of health, to conduct a review into how best to get people with treatable conditions back into work. The review will focus on how to incentivise the people to get back to work and consider whether their benefits should be stopped if they refuse treatment.
Cameron said: "Too many people are stuck on sickness benefits because of issues that could be addressed but instead are not." Some have drug or alcohol problems, but refuse treatment. In other cases people have problems with their weight that could be addressed, but instead a life on benefits rather than work becomes the choice. "It is not fair to ask hardworking taxpayers to fund the benefits of people who refuse to accept the support and treatment that could help them get back to a life of work."
"In particular, I have asked her (Professor Dame Carol Black) to consider whether people should face the threat of a reduction in benefits if they refuse to engage with a recommended treatment plan – it is vital that people who would benefit from treatment get the medical help they need."
[link url="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/11412218/Obese-people-could-have-benefits-taken-away-if-they-refuse-treatment.html?WT.mc_id=e_DM1411&WT.tsrc=email&etype=frontpage&utm_source=email&utm_medium=Edi_FAM_New_2015_02_14&utm_campaign=DM1411"]Full report in The Daily Telegraph[/link]