Your views: New test for incapacity benefit claimants

The government is insisting people who are genuinely too sick to work don't need to worry about a new test.

All 1.6 million claimants are being reassessed from today (4 April) to see if they really are unable to work.

It's thought hundreds of thousands of people could end up being taken off the benefit as a result with those who are found fit to work being immediately switched to jobseeker's allowance.

Critics argue the tests are unfair on those who have not worked in years.

Newsbeat has been to Margate in Kent, where on average more people are on benefits than anywhere else in the UK.

Peter Newman, 32

Peter is off work at the moment and receiving sick pay: "I took a corner, hit a pothole and came off my bike.

"I hit my shoulder and did my collarbone."

The 32-year-old says he wouldn't mind being tested though: "I've got nothing to hide.

"I think it's a good thing.

"There are definitely people out there who are cheating the system.

"It will take all the waste of spacers out."

James Adams, 18

James's dad is on incapacity benefit: "He's genuinely disabled and he's in his 50s now so he's not going to go back to work.

"He's got a problem with the muscles in his legs.

"He can hardly walk and he should be in a wheelchair."

But what if he was tested and told he might be able to work in an office?

"He's a qualified banking accountant so if they were to say that, he'd probably go for it.

"But with his age and the family, that's up to him."

Lorna Fox, 23

Lorna is a full-time mum and is backing the crackdown.

She said: "If you are really sick then you won't mind being tested to see if you're sick.

"I think there are people who are out there cheating the system.

"I'm not one of them."

Stephen Barnes, 20

Stephen is on jobseeker's allowance: "I can understand where the government is coming from.

"There's loads of people scabbing it.

"I'd do it myself if I could but I want to get a job.

"Some people genuinely deserve incapacity and they should get it, but they still get a lot more than they should do."