Doctors face benefits dilema 

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The government is unveiling reforms of incapacity benefit this week in a bid to reduce the number of claimants.

To date, doctors have played a key role in helping determine who gets the benefit.

How does the system work, and do doctors need more help administering it?

There is an old saying in the medical profession that there are only three reasons to lie to a doctor.

One is to get a larger insurance pay-out, the second is to get you moved from your prison cell and the third is to get out of work.

To become eligible for incapacity benefit, most claimants have to undergo an assessment by a doctor.

Dr Peter Holden, a Derbyshire GP who used to carry out the examinations, said: "If someone says they are unable to work for a bad back they can come in and make out they can't move.

"Yes, you can ask all the questions you want but in the end you have to go on what the patient says in the assessment.

"I have known occasions when claimants would say they are in a lot of pain and move around gingerly, only to walk freely across the car park and when you attempt to put that on the assessment you can't."

Read more about doctors benefits dilemma on the BBC website.