Rethink’s reaction to benefit changes announced by prime minister in speech to the CBI:
Earlier today, in a speech to the CBI in London, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced important changes to rules on getting people on benefits back into work.
Rethink welcomed elements of the changes but said the main obstacle faced by people who have experienced mental health problems in getting people back to work is the employers themselves.
Rethink’s Head of Campaigns Jane Harris said: “We welcome any changes that the Government introduce to make it easier for people who have experienced mental health problems to get back into work.
“Indeed, lots of people who have experienced severe mental illness want to work but the biggest problem are the employers themselves. In effect, the government has thrown down the gauntlet to the CBI and it is up to them to respond.
“There are a lot of skilled people with severe mental illness who simply don’t get jobs because employers won’t or don’t know how to support them, even though there are long-standing legal duties on employers to do so.”
“But we welcome the news that people on benefits will get greater help to access training. Of course, it is also vital that people who cannot work or can only work part-time are also given a good quality of life.”
Key facts:
People who have experienced severe mental illness have the highest want-to-work rate of any disability group but have the lowest in-work rate
Key changes include:
. People will be able to study for more than 16 hours and continue to receive JSA/IB/HB.
. Long-term claimants moving into work get £25 more per week than when they were on benefit.
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