New perspectives on health, disability, welfare and the labour market

Bringing together researchers from the fields of social policy, economics, sociology and clinical psychology, this book offers new evidence on the inter-related problems faced by disability claimants, and identifies important lessons for policy. • Explores how reducing the level of UK benefit claiming among those with health limitations has been a priority for successive governments • Argues that current policy fails to reflect the evidence that people on long-term disability benefits face a complex combination of barriers to work and social inclusion • Demonstrates that there is a need for continuing inter-disciplinary research on the nature of the 'disability benefits problem' and the efficacy of current policy solutions and public services.