Official Statistics

The cost of working age ill-health and disability that prevents work

This analysis estimates the costs of working age ill-health or disabilities that prevent people working in the United Kingdom.

Documents

Details

This publication provides ad hoc statistics on the cost of working age ill-health and disability that prevents work. 

The areas considered are: 

  • Lost production because of economic inactivity due to long-term or temporary sickness  

  • Lost production due to sickness absence  

  • Lost production due to informal care giving which removes people from the workforce 

  • Additional costs to the NHS when someone’s health condition causes them to move from economically active to economically inactive  

  • Lost Tax and forgone National Insurance returns to the Exchequer due to health conditions preventing or limiting employment 

  • Cost of social security benefits related to health conditions that prevent people from working

Updates to this page

Published 18 March 2025

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