HUNDREDS of drug addicts and alcoholics in south Essex have received benefits for at least two years because they claim their addiction means they cannot work.

Figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show two per cent of people claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in the county do so because of crippling drink and drug habits.

But of these, 24 per cent are in the Southend and Rochford districts, while claimants in Basildon, Castle Point and Thurrock make up another 23 per cent.

The quarterly figures were released after a Freedom of Information request by The Echo and cover May 2013 until August 2015.

In total, there are 1,210 people claiming the benefit in Essex who list drink or drug addiction as their main disability - a figure that has not changed since 2013.

A DWP spokesman said: “Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, published by the World Health Organisation.

“The medical condition recorded on the claim form does not itself confer entitlement to Incapacity Benefit (IB) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA).

“So, for example, a decision on entitlement for a customer claiming on the basis of drug abuse would be based on their ability to carry out the range of activities related to physical and mental function, assessed by the Personal/Work Capability Assessment.

“Medical condition is based on evidence provided at the start of the claim and may not represent a claimant’s most recent medical condition.

“Where someone has more than one diagnosis or disabling condition only the predominant one is used.”

Incapacity benefit was scrapped in 2015 with most people moved to ESA.

In Southend, more than a third of people claiming ESA have addictions, with 140 people hooked on alcohol and another 100 with serious drug problems.

Basildon has 80 alcoholics and 50 drug addicts claiming the benefit.

In Rochford, 20 people say they cannot work because of their alcoholism while ten say they cannot overcome their drug habits.

Castle Point has just ten alcoholics on the benefit and no drug addicts.

However, in Thurrock nearly a quarter of all ESA claimants have drink or drug addictions, with 70 on alcohol and 30 on drugs.

A single person aged 25 and over could receive up to £73 a week on ESA.