Thank you Emma,

"People with a recorded diagnosis of alcohol or drug dependency may have other diagnoses, for example mental illness, which result in their incapacity for work."

You just answered your own question.

Regarding your remark "To qualify for incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, claimants have to undertake a medical assessment of incapacity for work. This assesses the effects of a person's condition on their ability to carry out a number of everyday activities relevant to work".

Wrong, they collect a form from their G.P. and fill it and write whatever they like, such as "can't walk the stairs unaided" then post it off. They give the name of their G.P. (usually sick to the back teeth listening to them moaning and will do anything for a quiet life) or other health professional such as a Physiotherapist (paid £67.00 to complete their section of form)to support their claim or their act deserving an Oscar. The decision is made to award by a civil servant, not a doctor. Please check facts before posting. The guys in any Scottish public house here will be glad to tell you want to say. It's not unusual to hear someone shout " three cheers for the bloody D.L.A."

May I ask you a question, look around the area in which you live and tell me that all these young single mothers with children to various men are sitting in penniless tonight ? Nope, they are enjoying a night out with similar sorts on a benefits handout collected from the local Post Office and they are not worrying about Council tax, mortgages or even a high electricity bill as they know they will never be cut off, after all their battle cry "I'm a single mother" scares creditors away.

Also don't overlook thousands of free mobility cars. Bring back the three wheeler and see how many want it ?

Derek