Back pain claims fall after review

ONLY one in 10 people who sought disability benefit due to lower back pain were actually deemed eligible following a pilot review of the scheme, a Dáil committee heard yesterday.

A test project carried out in Dublin and Cork by the Department of Social and Family Affairs resulted in only 170 out of 1,532 new claimants being granted disability benefit for lower back pain.

However, a further 127 people were allowed to qualify for the same payment for reasons other than back pain.