Fact Check - Is spending on disability benefits being cut or going up?

"Across the UK, more than 1,000 people have died only months after being told to find work." Ian Lavery, PMQs, December 19, 2012

"What I would say to the hon. Gentleman is that the actual money that we are putting into disability benefits over the coming years is going up, not down." David Cameron, PMQs, December 19, 2012

Back in April this year, Full Fact factchecked the claim that over 1,000 people had died after being enrolled in the government's Work-Related Activity Group (WRAG). The claim advanced yesterday by Ian Lavery at the House of Commons first appeared on the Daily Mail as a result of a Freedom of Information (FoI) request sent by the Daily Mirror to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The articles stated that between January and August 2011, 1,100 claimants died after they were placed in the WRAG following their assessment.

However, Full Fact concluded that being placed in the Work-Related Activity Group is not the same as being found "fit for work" given that the DWP makes clear that in the WRAG "the claimant’s capability for work is limited by their physical or mental condition and it is not reasonable to require them to work."

In response to Ian Lavery raising this issue during PMQs, the Prime Minister said that "the actual money that we are putting into disability benefits over the coming years is going up, not down."

Are disability benefits really increasing?

Find out more by reading the full article at fullfact.org