More than 13,000 people in Shropshire have spent at least five years on benefits, it was revealed today.

The figures show that 7,130 people in the Shropshire Council area and 6,170 in the Telford & Wrekin authority area have continuously claimed some form of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Income Support since at least 2006.

It comes as the Government unveils plans to tackle the number of people claiming.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says that more than 91,000 people in the West Midlands have spent the past 10 years claiming at least one of the three main out of work benefits, a figure it says underlines the extent of Britain’s worklessness crisis.

A spokesman said many people went into a job or training for a short period of time then left and reverted back to day one of their dole claim.

He said that many people were never classed as long term unemployed when in fact they had not been in continuous employment for years.

Officials say a new Work Programme will put an end to the cycle as it is a two-year programme of tailored support, which continues to support the jobseeker on the job after they have gained employment.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling said: “With the right help thousands of people could be making a contribution to the economy.

“In just over a year we have put in place the biggest welfare to work programme this country has ever seen.

“The Work Programme will start helping people now, giving them the support they need, when they need it and will ensure people who can work are supported properly to do so.”

The new programme offers tailored support to a wide range of customers – from Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients, who have been out of work for some time, to customers who have been receiving incapacity benefit for many years and have recently been reassessed and found able to work through the Work Capability Assessment.

Private and voluntary sector organisations are investing £581 million upfront to provide tailored support built around the needs of individuals.

Organisations will be paid by results, with higher payments for tackling some of the toughest barriers such as long term benefit dependency and more freedom to develop innovative solutions that address the needs of jobseekers.

By Russell Roberts