Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, has announced reforms to the benefits system.
Commenting on the announcements, Mark Rowland, Chief Executive at the Mental Health Foundation, said:
“People who are too unwell to be able to work deserve a welfare system which prioritises helping them recover and return to work when they are able to. While parts of today’s announcements, such as the “right to try scheme”, the uplift to universal credit, and the reduction in harmful reassessments make a move towards this, packaging these alongside draconian cuts to support is disjointed and ultimately counterproductive.
“We’re also incredibly disappointed by the way these announcements have been communicated to the public, which has caused widespread fear, anxiety and pain among people who could be affected by these changes. This was entirely unnecessary, and we urge the government to have more consideration of the impact this sort of uncertainty can have on people’s lives.
“Changing the eligibility for PIP and restricting the ability of people unable to recover from their mental health problems to claim the support they need to live will not address the country’s mental health crisis. Instead, it could worsen the wellbeing of those with long term health conditions.
“We’re deeply worried about the targeting of measures at young people, such as the restriction of under-22s from claiming the ‘health element’ of universal credit. Young people are particularly vulnerable to both financial hardship and poor mental health. They deserve the same support and compassion as people with long term health conditions of any age, and we should support their transition to work with extra mental health support in schools, colleges and communities.
“We urge the UK government to focus on the progressive elements of their proposals, such as greater employment support and a more compassionate approach to reassessment. These should be implemented first, and have their success measured, without resorting to the kind of drastic, harmful, and counterproductive measures also announced today.”