I asked the Office for National Statistics

There is evidence that a small minority of people may choose long-term benefit dependency when they could work, but there is no strong evidence that this applies to “many” Britons. Most benefit claimants receive support because of age, disability, illness, low pay, caring responsibilities, or temporary unemployment rather than because they have chosen benefits as a preferred lifestyle

Posted By: jamesward, Jun 3, 16:46:17