While we are working on a separate factcheck on today's reports on Disability Living Allowance, (DLA) it is worth highlighting a separate point made in the Daily Mail's front page story.

The article also discusses Employment Support Allowance (ESA), a benefit paid to those deemed unable to work because of illness, injury, or disability.

It states; “Evidence suggests that only a very small proportion of DLA claimants will get the benefit under the new testing regime.

“Ministers have already switched to more stringent assessments for the replacement for Incapacity Benefit – and found that only 7 per cent of new claimants are sick enough to receive the handout.

“Thirty-nine per cent of first-time claimants for the new Employment and Support Allowance were deemed fit enough to work.

“A third dropped their application before it was completed, while a further 17 per cent were judged able to do some form of work with the right help and support.

This is a concern for a number of reasons. Firstly it assumes that the proportion of people deemed eligible for one benefit, specifically people unable to work, will be repeated for a benefit which is paid to people who are able to work. 

But worse is the claim that only 7 per cent of new claimants are sick enough to receive the handout.

This is not accurate. The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions show 7 per cent of new claimants are assessed as being in the 'Support Group' who receive a ESA unconditionally, while 17 per cent assessed as being in the Work Related Activity Group (that is, deemed unable to work but having potential in the future) also receive ESA.

The article makes no reference to the fact that people in the Work Related Activity Group do continue to receive the benefit but with more conditions. As a proportion of all new applicants for ESA (including those who withdraw their claim before the assessment process is complete), the correct figure would be 24 per cent. 

What is most disappointing about this claim is that it was on a very similar point that Full Fact took the Mail, among other newspapers, to the Press Complaints Commission.

Although the story in question covered reassessments of people being moved from the old Incapacity Benefit onto ESA rather than new ESA applicants the principle was the same.

The newspapers were portraying those deemed eligible for receiving the benefit, albeit on a conditional basis, as fit to work, or in this case not "being sick enough to receive the handout."

In the case of the original complaint the Daily Mail had to print a correction. But given the points made in today's coverage it seems like the lessons of that lengthy process were not completely learnt by the newspaper.