A plan to tighten up the benefits system has been greeted with scepticism in the benefit claim capital of England and Wales, an area of Greater Manchester, after a survey by the Press Association.

Falinge, in Rochdale, gained notoriety when it was revealed earlier this year that two-thirds of working age adults were on work-related benefits.

Jackie Robinson, a youth worker in the area, said the shake-up would make little difference as there were no jobs for people.

She said: “My feeling from the community is that people are looking for work already - but there just are not any jobs out there.

”Of course people want to work, but some people, like refugees, are not allowed to.

”People in Falinge are trying to work but there are a lot of stumbling blocks to overcome - and changing the way people apply for benefits will not make much difference as there are not the jobs out there.”

A 73-year-old Rochdale resident, who declined to be named, said: “Falinge is not a pleasant area. Everyone thinks the same thing, that they’re all a load of lazy idiots, can’t work and won’t work.

”I don’t see how they can find work, everything is closed down.”

She added: “I’m 73 and I’m on my day off. We have to work because Mr Brown takes quite a chunk of our pension so the layabouts can stay in bed all day in Falinge.”