[holding answer 10 February 2010]: In 2008 the Department for Work and Pensions published a research report: ‘Population estimates of problematic drug users in England who access DWP benefits: A feasibility study’, working paper No. 46, Hay, G. and Bauld, L. that estimated the number of problem drug users claiming various benefits. Such information as is available is presented in the following table.
Benefit Number of claimants Jobseeker's allowance 66,000 Incapacity benefit 87,000 Income support 146,000 Total number of problem drug users on the above benefits 267,000 Notes : 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. 2. Problem drug users are defined as those who use heroin and/or crack cocaine and includes those who are in treatment for their dependency. 3. The sum of the component benefits is greater than the total number of problem drug users estimated to be in receipt of the main benefits. This is because claimants can be in receipt of Incapacity Benefit and Income Support at the same time. 4. The figures relate to 2006 and therefore predate the introduction of employment support allowance. Source: Population estimates of problematic drug users in England who access Department for Work and Pensions benefits: A feasibility study, Working Paper No. 46, Hay, G. and Bauld, L.