UK faces 'longest sustained rise' in sickness benefits claims since 1990s

Longest sustained rise in economic inactivity due to long-term sickness since 1990s - up to 2.7 million working-age adults too sick to work
Increase started before pandemic in 2019 and lasted 54 months, longest period since 55 months between 1994-1998
Contributes to workforce shortages and UK having lower employment rate than pre-pandemic
Spending on disability benefits to rise 45% over next 5 years to £52.2 billion
Could have serious effects on living standards, career paths, NHS, and welfare spending if inactivity not reduced