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Nearly 10,000 people have died in just over two years after being denied full sickness benefits and told to get a job, the Government admitted.

After an 18-month Freedom of Information battle with the Mirror, the Department for Work and Pensions revealed that 2,380 people died between December 2011 and February 2014 after failing controversial government tests and being found “fit to work”.

A further 7,200 people claiming Employment and Support Allowance died after being put in the “work-related activity group”, which means they get reduced benefits and are told to get a job.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “We urgently need an inquiry into the government’s back-to-work regime. These disturbing findings cannot be swept under the carpet.

“The fact that more than 80 people are dying each week shortly after being declared fit for work should concern us all. We need a welfare system that supports people to find decent jobs not one that causes stress and ill health.”

Find out what you can do if you're wrongly declared 'fit to work' here.

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The Mirror first used Freedom of Information laws in 2012 to expose how every week 32 people were dying after being put into the work-related activity group following “work capability assessments”.

The DWP insisted that the death rate for people on benefits had fallen over 10 years to 2013 “in line with the general working age population”.

But the death rate of those in the “work related activity group”, who now get the same rate as the jobseekers allowance, rose in 2013 to 532 per 100,000 – more than double the general working age population.

Back to work deaths 2,380 People died in just over two years after being declared fit to work by Government officials

Rob Holland, of Mencap, said: “These tragic figures warrant further investigation. We know the fit for work test is failing disabled people, with devastating consequences.”

A DWP spokesman said: “The Government continues to support millions of people on benefits with an £80billion working age welfare safety net in place.”

Earlier this week, Work Secretary Iain Duncan Smith announced that he planned changes to the work capability assessments.