The Rise and Fall of Income Replacement Disability Benefit Receipt in the United Kingdom

Since the 1970s, the number of people not in employment in the United Kingdom (UK) because of disabilities has increased sharply. In this chapter, we outline several reforms that have been implemented in the UK in recent decades. These reforms have introduced stricter assessments to reduce the number of people eligible for benefits, alongside welfare-to-work programs to increase employment among disabled people. We consider the effect of these reforms, both positive and negative, and the assumptions underlying the reforms. Finally, we examine alternative approaches that may improve outcomes.