January 2011

Daily Mail article wrongly claims that 400,000 disabled benefit claimants were “trying it on”, and that 94 per cent of new claimants are able to work.

What: A Daily Mail article wrongly claims that 400,000 disabled people “were trying it on” after applying for the new ESA in its first two years. The article claims the DWP figures show that 94 per cent of new claimants are able to work.

Why significant: This was one of the most high-profile and discredited articles published by the mainstream media, with backing from DWP. An analysis by the fact-checking website Full Fact will later show how inaccurate the story and headline were.