A growing number of people in Tayside and Fife say they cannot work because they have alcohol problems, according to new figures.
Whitehall data showed that 930 people with a primary medical condition of alcohol misuse received sickness benefit now called Employment and Support Allowance in 2014.
That was up from 760 the previous year with the biggest number of claimants in 2014 recorded in Fife (410) and Dundee (310).
On top of those handouts, there were 210 claims in 2013 and 60 in 2014 for Incapacity Benefit, the forerunner to ESA which was still being phased out.
In 2014 there were 100 people claiming ESA because of alcohol abuse in Angus; 310 in Dundee; 410 in Fife; and 110 in Perth and Kinross.
The previous year the figure was 80 in Angus, 250 in Dundee, 330 in Fife and 100 in Perth and Kinross, with all four council areas witnessing a rise.
The figures were issued following a Freedom of Information request from The Courier.
North East MSP Alex Johnstone said: “I sympathise with anyone caught in the grip of alcohol addiction, but this is something that can be addressed.
“I want to see people given appropriate support that gets them back into the workplace and making a positive contribution to the community.”
The Rev Martin Fair, of St Andrew’s Church in Arbroath, helps runs a drop-in centre, which provides help five days a week for people suffering with alcohol or drug addictions.
The Havilah centre was set up by St Andrew’s Church in 2006 and provides a much-needed facility for many of those who for whatever reason are finding life difficult.
Mr Fair said: “We make no distinction between those who have problems with alcohol and those who have problems with drugs. These figures should give us all cause for concern.”
ESA is a benefit paid to people whose ability to work is limited by ill health or disability. It replaced new claims for Incapacity Benefit and Income Support from October 2008.
Claimants receiving Incapacity Benefit, Income Support paid because of illness or disability or Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) continued to receive those benefits as long as they remained eligible.
David McEnroy, manager of Jericho House, an alcohol treatment centre in Dundee, said: “Why should alcoholism be different from any other illness?
“Alcoholics Anonymous compares it to cancer, but without the comfort of your family.”
Prime Minister David Cameron has launched a review of the system, which he says fails to encourage people with long-term, treatable issues to get medical help.