Ahead of planned announcements from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, on changes to the benefits system, we are warning that the trailed proposals may not achieve the outcome that the UK government appear to be pursuing.
Commenting on the reports, Mark Rowland, Chief Executive at the Mental Health Foundation, said:
“It’s vital the government finds better ways to support people with mental health problems back into work, but these trailed announcements could make things worse. Most people who have mental health problems tell us that their work is important to protecting and maintaining their mental health. But simply forcing the hand of people who are unable to work due to mental health problems by reducing their already very low incomes will likely be detrimental to their mental health and will make people’s return to the workforce less likely.
“There is so much more that employers and the government can do to prevent people from falling out of work due to poor mental health in the first place. The UK government should be investing more in prevention and support, rather than removing what little support already exists. Increasing statutory sick pay is a good start to this – but the approach needs to be more comprehensive and include investment in counselling, mentoring, peer support and coaching so millions of people aren’t waiting for services. Other countries that get this right put resources into creating healthy workplaces, ensuring job security and providing support in a timely manner when needed.
“The UK government should listen to the deep concerns across the mental health sector. The mental health needs being expressed by people are real, and taking them seriously is a vital step in supporting people into work. Simply cutting the money people need to live in order to force them back into a workplace they are not yet ready for risks deepening, not addressing, the mental health crisis.